Jalopnik: Knight Rider

Knight Rider Fan-Boys Get Taken For A Ride In KITT

Ray Wert — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

While we still think driving the Knight Rider KITT-ed up GT500KR was cooler, the fan-boys at KnightRiderOnline are pretty geeked about getting a chance in the passenger seat of KITT's stunt car. [KnightRiderOnline]

Photo Credit: Alex C. Conley

The New KARR Is...A Transformer?

Ray Wert — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:45:00 EST

We haven't been paying attention to the debacle that is the new Knight Rider NBC show in quite some time. Even this quick footage of the new KARR isn't blowing up our skirts. [KnightRiderOnline]

K.I.T.T.-Driving Werewolf Murders Mexican Cheerleaders, You Can Dance In Blood!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Near as we can tell, this video for the Sonido Lasser Drakar song "82 Pontiac Firebird" shows a wholesome-looking refrigerator-white 3rd-gen Firebird that turns into K.I.T.T. when the sun goes down; meanwhile, the car's driver becomes a werewolf, thirsty for the blood of the Badly Choreographed Cheerleaders. Thanks to Franzouse for the tip!

Behold The Self-Parking Volkswagen Minivan!

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

If you thought self-parking was just for Lexus, this awesome Volkswagen Touran minivan commercial (which we're trotting out again for Maximum Minivan Day 'cause it's awesome) is about to make you look like a fool. The Germans love minivans and David Hasselhoff, making this pairing a match made in heaven for the average Bavarian. So watch as this cool German guy shows you how it's done — Knight Rider style. Minivans, über alles! [Ads Of The World]

NBC Picks Up Knight Rider For Full Season; Also, Here's A Massive Car Pulverizer

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Terrible news everyone! NBC liked what they saw in the scripts they ordered and have succumbed to the powers of the Dark Side, calling for an additional nine-episode set of Knight Rider. The result will be a complete season of awful green-screen effects, lackluster writing, unimaginative story arcs and blatant male demographic pandering. In other news, here is video of a car getting crushed to pieces by a stationary automobile grinder. We've seen these kinds of things in action before, but that was on a more portable scale, allowing you to, say, take it to the set of Knight Rider and allow instinct to run its course. If you want the complete and gory details, the press release resides below (Thanks, we think, for the tip ScottE).

NBC TO PICK UP NINE ADDITIONAL EPISODES OF "KNIGHT RIDER” TO COMPLETE FULL-SEASON ORDER FOR 2008-09

UNIVERSAL CITY – October 21, 2008 – NBC will pick up nine additional episodes of its the freshman drama series "Knight Rider” (Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m. ET) to provide the series with a full-season order for 2008-09, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

"Gary Scott Thompson and the great cast and crew of 'Knight Rider' continue to deliver fun, action packed adventures every week,” said Silverman. "Kitt and Michael will continue to travel across the country on their fun, escapist ride pursuing bad guys and saving the day.”

"Knight Rider” premiered its new season on Wednesday, September 24 (8-9 p.m. ET).
The series is averaging a 2.4 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.4 million viewers overall so far this season in "live plus same day" averages. "Knight Rider" is the #1 regular series in its competitive time period in all key adult-male demographics and won the slot in adults 18-49 with its most recent telecast on October 15.

On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as a reinvented, updated and super-charged action series showcasing the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand). Absolutely the coolest car ever created, KITT is equipped with "AI” (artificial intelligence) that is capable of hacking almost any system. Its weapon's systems match that of a jet fighter, its body is capable of actually transforming into other vehicles and it uses sophisticated holographic imagery to elude villains.

"Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica”), Yancey Arias ("Kingpin”) and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). Smith Cho ("Blades of Glory”) recurs. David Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C."), Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity"), Matt Pyken ("Las Vegas”) and Gary Scott Thompson ("Las Vegas,” "The Fast and The Furious”) are executive producers.

Based on characters created by Glen Larson, "Knight Rider” is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

[Source: NBC, Youtube]

Make It Stop: NBC Orders Up Four More Knight Rider Scripts

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:40:00 EDT

At this point, we're wondering if NBC is captained by a board of masochists, as news comes down the pipe they've ordered up four more Knight Rider scripts from the show's writers. Mind you, they're just scripts, not necessarily full episodes...yet. If you've watched the show religiously, you're a sturdier breed of television consumer than we are, as we've given up on the thing. We've driven the blacked-out Mustang Shelby GT500KR, and that's going to remain the highlight of the show for us. Well, that and the day we hear the show gets the axe. [THR via Autoblog]

Knight Rider Premieres Tonight

Ray Wert — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:40:00 EDT

Just a reminder, the first episode of the new Knight Rider premieres tonight at 8:00 PM EST. We've already all seen it, but don't let our snap review stop you from watching. Although you'd be a stupid piece of KITT not to listen to us.

Even Ford Thinks Knight Rider Has Too Much Ford

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:15:00 EDT

The Detroit Free Press tells a tale of product placement gone slightly awry in the new Knight Rider. We know KITT is a Shelby GT500KR, but apparently KITT is also able to transform into any of a variety of other Ford models, like the F-150, ostensibly for stealth purposes. In other words, KITT is a GT500KR when Michael Knight needs to look cool, and a Fusion or Escape when he's trolling for hookers. But how many Ford vehicles is too many? Apparently the movie provided a clue: "Even Ford said it was way too much in the two-hour (movie)," said executive producer Gary Scott Thompson. "But unfortunately, it's a show about a car." Wow, with a plug like that, we can't wait to set the DVR. [Freep]

First Episode Of New Knight Rider TV Show Online At Hulu...And Right Here

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EDT

Want to see the first episode of the new Knight Rider TV show a week earlier than it'll air on broadcast television? If so, it's your lucky day — just moments ago it went live on Hulu for the watching. But why go there when we've got the full episode below the jump? We won't spoil anything that hasn't already been spoiled already, but if you're a fan of turbo boost, you'll be happy in the first few minutes.

Michigan Woman's Mustang Becomes Real KITT

Mark Arnold — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Just in time for the September 24th premier of NBC's new Knight Rider show, the local NBC news affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan has found ~~a great way to shamelessly promote the show~~ a woman claiming that her recently sold Mustang GT was bought to be turned into a real-life example of KITT for the show. Deb Fralick had to sell her beloved Ford Mustang GT for $19,000 after faced with bills from a life-threatening illness and several visits to the Mayo Clinic. We're not exactly sure how much time her car will actually spend on-set, as right now it's said to be in the Toronto area on a promotional tour.

Fralick said of the car "I just turned 50. So it actually made me feel like I was 18 again." Now, she's cruising around in an early '90s Buick Regal GS, which is good transportation but hardly a Mustang GT. Fortunately, if her now KITT-ified Mustang ever goes back up for sale she gets first dibs. [WOODTV]

KITT: First Drive

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EDT

As a child of the 80s and former member of the Knight Rider faithful (I happily toted the Rider lunchbox until third grade) it was nearly impossible to stifle my internal yelp of anticipation when first presented with the keys to the new KITT for an exclusive first drive. It's irrational, because I knew the car sitting in front of me wasn't the F-body KITT of my childhood dreams, but when those sweeping lights fired up in front for the first time, it was enough to make me giddy as a school boy. Especially because although it can't talk (at least not without help from the installed Mio GPS unit), this car's the real deal — a fire-breathing, bad guy-chasing weapon of fictional justice. That's because beneath the toys and cosmetic upgrades, this isn't the auto-tranny GT used for the made-for-TV movie, it's a 540 HP Shelby GT500KR.

But the cosmetics are still what makes this one-off car something special. Ford's turned this $80,000 Shelby into KITT thanks to a sweet-looking black-on-black paint job, the addition of 20" Shelby "Super Snake" wheels, 90% tinted windows all-around and of course, the Auto Indulgence 15" LED "Knight Rider" security scanner lightbar. Sure, it's all stuff you can buy off the rack — but when combined together, it makes this "King of the Road" look bad-ass.

But what's great about this customized Shelby is when the novelty of cruising around in KITT wears out, and you've turned the lightbar off, you remember you're still driving a Shelby GT500KR. That said, there's now even greater incentive to pull to a stop, shift into first and floor it. Because when you do, your world shrinks into a tunnel of motion with only a pinpoint of clarity ahead, wild-eyed narration provided by an unnatural banshee wail emanating from the supercharger. You watch, almost from outside of your body, as time dilates and you are no longer subject to the rules of physics. You feel as though this motor will pull the stars from their places in the heavens. And then the rev limiter brings it all back to reality.

A sideways grin spread across my face as my autonomic nervous system registers how close I just came to some form of fiery death. The manic rush, instead of acting like a deterrent, plays a powerful stimulant, and you do it again, and again, and again.

That's because the GT500KR is a much better car than its predecessor, the Mustang GT500. The GT500 is a mean and nasty car, operating at the limits of the chassis — it's twitchy, overpowered and hard to live with. Driving it always makes you feel like you're toeing the line of control, even when toting the groceries. To be perfectly honest, the notion of driving a GT500 with more horsepower was, at the outset, mildly terrifying. But the GT500KR is much more refined — the extra power is met with a much better suspension thanks to upgraded KR-only dampers, springs and shocks. All of it works together to provide a far more confident drive than the GT500. No more skipping across expansion joints at speed on a sweeping freeway corner, only planted, firm and predictable driving over the bumps and potholes of Michigan roads. But, then why the taken-to-the-limits feeling? It's because that added confidence is underscored with the notion that instead of being more controllable, the razors edge has just been raised to a new and more frightening level.

In spite of this knowledge, you smile like any man charming a Cobra; resigned to the danger, but addicted to the exhilaration of it. It doesn't matter if the car handles incredibly well for a solid axle design on a heavy car with monster mill, it doesn't matter if the interior has no upgrades over a standard 'Stang, it doesn't matter that the windows are tinted so dark you strain to see headlights in the night because none of that changes the mechanical the wail of obscenities the supercharger hurls at you as it takes over your world.

People point. They stare. The silent back and forth sweep of the red light draws the questions of curious passers-by. Camera phones are wielded, friends are called over and disbelief removed. But in the face of the crushing power of this car, the tight hold that childhood memories maintain over the aura of KITT shrink, and become insignificant as you pull runs — again, and again, and again. The show may be in need of some "Turbo Boost," but this GT500KR has all the boost we need.

Photo Credit: Alex C. Conley

Jalopnik Drives KITT In Woodward Dream Cruise, Pretends We're Michael Knight

Ray Wert — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:45:00 EDT

That's right boys n' girls, I'm cruising down Woodward Avenue today in the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise in none other than the Mustang-powered KITT from the new Knight Rider TV show hitting NBC this fall. Unlike most of those used in filming, this isn't a fancy-pantsified Mustang GT. Nope, it's a heavily-modified GT500KR, with light bar and all. I'm not sure what else I can tell you about the car as my drive impression's embargoed until September 1st, but let's simply say it's got more horsepower than the run-of-the-mill King of the Road. Screw it, there's 605 HP under the hood. But if you happen to be cruising down Woodward, or sitting on the sidelines today — keep an eye out for a midnight black 'stang with the cobra on the front — one of our team will more than likely be behind the wheel. Then remember to come back on September 1st to see Ben's review of the new beast from Knight Industries.

Follow the fun at our Woodward Dream Cruise tag for all of our coverage of the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise, the largest one-day automotive event in the world!

The Glitz, The Glamor: The People Of The Gumball 3000!

Murilee Martin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT

All manner of celebrities were there with me in the Green Zone at the Gumball 3000 opening ceremonies yesterday, but I live in a fortified survivalist compound in which the corrupting influence of television is prohibited and thus could identify just two famous individuals: ex-mayor Willie Brown and ex-star David Hasselhoff. Though Mr. Brown was quite gracious, most of the other Gumball players edged away from your correspondent like they'd just seen me rattling a can of gray primer and drawing a bead on their godzillion-dollar rides. The "fire-eating stripteasers" associated with the Donkey Frog Riviera had genuine integrity- the Ratt '84 tour shirts saw to that- but most of the other costumes seemed forced.

Don't Worry, KITT's New Truck Mode Is Microsoft-Approved

Ray Wert — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EDT

We already broke the story on KITT transforming from a GT500KR into a Ford F-150 FX4 pickup truck in the new Knight Rider TV show, but this morning PickupTrucks.com has the scoop on the full story and it's a whopper. Apparently, Exec Producer Gary Scott Thompson and his production team went to Microsoft to help with determining what the future of automobiles looks like. Microsoft, other than focusing on a future where every car comes with Sync and owners pay $100 upgrade fees each year for new Sync XP software updates, came up with the idea of having it shift forms as long as it keeps the same mass. Yes, you know, like how a Mustang and a pickup truck have the same mass. OK, so maybe the rear axles do, but here's what PUTC has to say:

"While many might still groan at a GT500KR that can transform on-the-fly into an F-150, Thompson talked to futurists at Microsoft to find some grounding in reality. Their meetings discussed what cars and trucks might be like in 2030. "They (Microsoft futurists) talked about vehicles being able to maneuver between smaller spaces, meaning it would have to squeeze itself, or it would grow larger or grow bigger wheels to get over a large obstacle. I thought, 'Wow, if these guys are already thinking about this now, then we need to be looking at this.'"
It looks like KITT's new off-road program will become a regular part of Knight Rider. Thompson says we'll see it in two of the first four episodes. There might be other modes on the horizon, too. "As long as we stay within about the same mass, you might see other versions of KITT," says Thompson. "You're not, however, going to see it turn into a huge spaceship," Thompson tells us."

So, getting the Microsoft A-OK on a Mustang GT500KR transforming into a truck sounds like us approaching Jezebel to get their tips on what the laptop of the future will look like. But whatever, because we also hear KITT may transform into other modes which we assume will be other Ford products. Excellent, we can't wait to see what happens when it transforms into a 2009 Ford Focus. [PickupTrucks.com]

First Video Of KITT Valmorphanizing Into A Ford F-150 FX4 Pickup Truck

Ray Wert — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:36:49 EDT

Somewhere between "Morphing" and "Transforming" is the very Team America-ish "Valmorphanization." That's the term we feel best using to describe what KITT's doing in this one minute clip from the new Knight Rider TV show premiering September 24th on NBC. As you'd expect, KITT is apparently fitted with a current Ford lineup-limiter, only letting him "valmorphanize" into Ford products. Which explains why he's able to "valmorphanize" into a Ford F-150 FX4 pickup truck rather than the more appropriate "Ranchero" form factor we hoped for when we heard about his plethora of new looks yesterday.

Now we're only left wondering when Ford comes out with a special "Knight Rider" edition F-150. Like the Harley-Davidson version, we're assuming the truck bed won't be big enough to hold KITT. Also, note the Shelby cobra that's part of the TV show's logo. We wonder how many ads Ford had to buy to get that level of a boa constrictor-like grip on the creative process? [Knight Rider]

KITT's Turbo Boost Is Back For New Knight Rider Series

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:40:00 EDT

It's official — "Turbo Boost" is back for KITT. One of the biggest disappointments in the Knight Rider made-for-TV movie was the total lack of KITT's signature, once-per-show super-move — turbo-boost. After getting the green light for series production, the new Knight Rider series has already calmed our fears the super-speedy feature was overlooked. NBC's released this short promo clip with a very un-Kilmer like KITT saying "just wait until you see my turbo-boost." We will, oh Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR-bodied KITT, we will. [via KnightriderOnline]

Knight Rider-Themed GPS System Gets Original Voice Of KITT

Ray Wert — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

While Val Kilmer did a yeoman's job as the voice of KITT in the made-Ford-TV movie earlier this year, he still sucked compared to Will Arnett. And they both sucked compared to the crisp tones of the original voice of the F-bodied Trans Am, William Daniels. Luckily, he's the voice behind this new Mio GPS with a Knight Rider theme and the voice of Daniels providing direction to boot. It's not yet available for sale, but we're hearing a price of around $270 will be all you'll need to hear Daniels yelling out "Michael, jump in...and turn right at the Sunoco." Although Arnett would have sounded pretty good saying it as well — affectation and all. [~~Winding Road~~ NextAutos via AutoBlog]

Researchers Looking To Make KITT More Than A Hasselhoff Fantasy

Travis Hudson — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Scientists and researchers at Stanford must have quite the fascination with David Hasselhoff and his KITT because they are working on making the talking-car technology a reality. The lead on this team, Clifford Nass, says that a more intelligent car that knows about the driver and communicates with the driver can help provide a safer and more engaging driving experience.

He continues to give examples of how his talking car concepts would help drivers:

Depressed drivers drive better when their car reacts as if it too is depressed
Cars that speak in complex sentences tend to make you pay attention, rather than zoning out
Older drivers prefer younger voices
Drivers feel closer to the computer if they believe it's embedded in the car, rather than a remote device.

The one downside is that this technology could provide more information to insurers than you would want. As long as you don't get a lot of tickets or get into wrecks the insurers don't need to know you drive like a bat out of hell, but this technology could make that happen. [Physorg via Giz]

New Knight Rider TV Show To Be Officially Live-Blogged By Alex Nunez, Lesbian Surfers Rejoice

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:45:00 EDT

So Knight Rider the TV show is going to be airing this fall on Wednesday nights, hoping to draw attention away from those 16 variations of CSI that CBS is running. Sickened by the obvious endings and lack of Will Arnett, we're going to skip on the Knight Rider Live-Blog and leave it in the capable hands of AutoBlog's Alex Nunez. How they got the on-again-off-again bisexual bad girl from Degrassi: The Next Generation to write for them is anyone's guess, but we think it'll go over well with the surf lesbian FBI agent demo the show appeals to. [AutoBlog]

Jalopnik Hearts Will Arnett, Will Arnett Hearts Jalopnik

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:30:00 EDT

While hanging out at the Audi Forum event last night we bumped into our fair share of celebrities, including the cast of some show called Gossip Girl that the kids seem to enjoy. It was one of those events. But then one half of America's favorite comedy power couple, Will Arnett, arrived. We have an awkward almost man crush on the man who was to voice KITT and then, all of a sudden, wasn't. We talked with him for a while about his unfortunate departure from Knight Rider and then he expressed his enjoyment of Jalopnik!

That's right Jalopniks, Will Arnett is among your ranks. Not only that, he's voting El Camino and we're pretty sure, as the voice of GMC Trucks, that he's a superdelegate. Somebody pinch us.

The Real Reason Why Will Arnett Was Dropped As KITT?

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:40:00 EST

There was a time when we thought Knight Rider might be saved by having WIll Arnett voice KITT. This was right before they announced Will Arnett would not voice KITT. The excuse they gave had to do with this other job as the voice of GMC Trucks. This clip from Arnett suggests that the producers may have been going in a different creative direction. [MTV]

Knight Rider's Not-So-Surprising Climax, Yukon Smash

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST

For those not wanting to sit through the first 108 minutes of the two-hour Ford commercial that was Knight Rider, we've got the less-than-climactic climax (and no, Lesbian surf FBI agent is not involved in said climax). We don't want to give too much away, but needless to say GMC products did not fair well. If you didn't see the exposition, you may wonder how KITT manages to survive such a powerful impact. One word: Nanorobots.

Knight Rider: The Classic Intro Can Make All This Go Away

Ray Wert — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:15:00 EST

So you've seen the new Mustang-ed up KITT live, you've seen the live video of the new KITT, you've watched the made-for-NBC Knight Rider movie, re-watched the new Knight Rider intro and theme music and you've even participated in the made-for-Jalopnik Knight Rider live-blog. Heck you may have even wandered back for some Knight Rider stripper action and some Turkish Knight Rider action. So wethinks perhaps you're a bit Knight Rider-ed out. Wethinks perhaps you just want this all to go away. Well guess what, it can — just sit back and spend a few moments watching the classic Knight Rider intro and reminiscing about the way things were. Yes, it most assuredly must have been better back when KITT was an F-body. Just keep telling yourself that. Over and over again — all the while chanting the words "The only KITT I know has 'Turbo Boost'..." Do it while you hug that pillow made of man-hair clippings from das Hoff ever-more snugly to your bosom.

Knight Rider: The New Intro

Mark Arnold — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:10:54 EST

You've seen our first exclusive pics of the new KITT. You've seen our knee-jerk reactions in the live blog as we watched the premiere. But in case you missed it (or you avoided it), we've got the intro sequence of the new Knight Rider up and ready for you to watch as many times as you'd like to. Behold the CG! Watch the close-up beauty shots in awe! Attempt to read the font! Listen to the re-mixed theme music!

The Official Unofficial Knight Rider Live-Blog

Ray Wert — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:06:31 EST

Tonight's the first episode — err — part of the Knight Rider movie/mini-series/season, and we'll be live-blogging it live on NBC starting in a few minutes from the comfort of the Jalopnik world headquarters. So keep track of the Knight Rider tag to keep track of all of the Mustang-filled action all evening and keep track of the full live-blog between Hardigree and I after the jump:

9:08:09 PM Hardigree: "Looks like homeboy is having cardiac arrest"
9:08:14 PM Wert: ha!
9:08:57 PM Hardigree: uhhh... chicks in surfboards
9:09:11 PM Hardigree: this is more the sequel to TKR than KR
9:09:19 PM Wert: TKR?
9:09:40 PM Wert: lesbians?
9:09:41 PM Hardigree: team knight rider
9:09:44 PM Wert: Ha!
9:09:44 PM Hardigree: LESBIANS!
9:09:50 PM Hardigree: surf lesbians

9:09:52 PM Wert: HA!
9:09:57 PM Hardigree: crime fighting surf lesbians
9:10:09 PM Wert: Excellent, this IM will be the live-blog
9:10:18 PM Hardigree: it only took 9 minutes for them to jump the shark
9:10:42 PM Hardigree: "Holy shit, a black man in a library at stanford. He must be dangerous!"
9:11:25 PM Wert: Nice...umm...roadster?
9:11:41 PM Hardigree: they're getting investments to rebuild a Cobra?
9:11:50 PM Hardigree: is this unique performance all over again?
9:12:44 PM Wert: The good ol' Gunther building trick
9:13:18 PM Wert: Brought to you by the star of the show...the Ford Mustang!
9:15:58 PM Wert: How exciting is this?
9:16:22 PM Hardigree: Win a GT500
9:16:28 PM Hardigree: Can't drive a stick? Neither can they.
9:17:22 PM Hardigree: First continuity error, it looks like the window was down and then up
9:17:36 PM Hardigree: This is for fans of the wire
9:17:38 PM Hardigree: BNBG
9:17:49 PM Wert: BNBG?
9:17:57 PM Hardigree: gotta be a wire fan to get it
9:18:12 PM Wert: Apparently as you just lost me at hello
9:18:20 PM Wert: Val Kilmer sounds fat
9:18:24 PM Hardigree: yeah
9:18:38 PM Hardigree: Is KITT programed in tune with Isaac Asimov's three robot laws?
9:18:44 PM Hardigree: because he should have just run over them
9:18:48 PM Wert: Who wins in a race — a Ford Mustang GT or a Ford Edge?
9:18:58 PM Wert: I mean, who doesn't like to live on the Edge-uh?
9:19:00 PM Hardigree: i don't know, the edge might have SYNC
9:19:06 PM Wert: Oooh, so it might talk too
9:20:42 PM Wert: So so far we have lesbians, an Edge trailing a Mustang GT and Mike Knight getting a gatt drawn on his friend. Oh and Val Kilmer sounds fat.
9:20:46 PM Wert: Am I missing anything?
9:20:57 PM Hardigree: they're about to hit a focus
9:20:59 PM Wert: And yes, a Ford Foucs!
9:21:05 PM Hardigree: this is like VIPER
9:21:07 PM Wert: ha!
9:21:09 PM Hardigree: every car is a ford
9:21:16 PM Hardigree: land rover
9:21:21 PM Wert: Rover!
9:21:39 PM Wert: Passenger Impact Safety Test?
9:21:41 PM Hardigree: "This Isn't Fun At All"
9:21:42 PM Wert: Complete
9:21:47 PM Wert: I'd agree with that statement
9:21:50 PM Hardigree: there is the show's motto
9:21:55 PM Hardigree: the same land rover
9:22:10 PM Hardigree: Mazda5?
9:22:18 PM Hardigree: fusion
9:22:27 PM Wert: Is there any other automaker?
9:22:30 PM Hardigree: He does follow Asimov's three laws
9:22:31 PM Wert: No
9:22:31 PM Hardigree: Volvo
9:22:32 PM Wert: Fusion!
9:22:40 PM Wert: Volvo!
9:23:10 PM Wert: How many minutes between Ford commercials we think?
9:23:52 PM Hardigree33: you're sort of implying that this isn't just one long ford commercial with the occasional Loreal commercial
9:24:37 PM Hardigree33: Who is crazier? Michael Knight or Ann Curry?
9:25:29 PM Wert: Wait — a VW commercial?
9:25:38 PM Wert: I want to know if that's against the rules?
9:25:40 PM Hardigree33: VEEDUB!
9:25:48 PM Hardigree33: destroying a focus, btw
9:26:27 PM Wert: Wait, a mitsubishi commercial?
9:26:36 PM Wert: Are they whoring themselves out?
9:26:42 PM Wert: Wait — this is NBC, right?
9:27:13 PM Wert: KITT, I could kill you!
9:27:15 PM Wert: Me too
9:27:40 PM Wert: Oh look, it turned into...
9:27:43 PM Wert: ANOTHER Mustang!
9:28:25 PM Hardigree33: They'll never suspect it
9:28:35 PM Wert: KITT, you are MY father.
9:30:10 PM Wert: Maybe they could use Sync to track KITT!
9:30:32 PM Hardigree33: "I hate heterosexual men"
9:30:56 PM Wert: Who doesn't?
9:31:28 PM Wert: Profiler software is a new Sync upgrade
9:31:47 PM Wert: ANOTHER MustanG!
9:31:58 PM Wert: KITT is a master of disguise!
9:32:15 PM Hardigree33: Who is the target audience for this show?
9:32:32 PM Wert: Good question
9:32:38 PM Wert: Sweet, ANOTHER Ford commercial
9:34:09 PM Hardigree33: Anyone not enjoying this can go watch Turkish Knight Rider
9:34:10 PM Hardigree33: http://jalopnik.com/tag/gitt/
9:34:25 PM Wert: And seriously, how hot is that?
9:35:44 PM Hardigree33: I think everyone watching this show is The Biggest Loser
9:35:58 PM Hardigree33: wait, I take it back, Dennis Miller is the biggest loser
9:36:50 PM Hardigree33: "Play Artist Jewel"
9:37:06 PM Wert: "Play Artist Mustang Sally"
9:37:12 PM Wert: "Play Artist Toby Keith"
9:37:33 PM Wert: That would have been "Play Song Mustang Sally", btw
9:37:40 PM Wert: Except you can't do that with Sync
9:37:51 PM Wert: No "Play Song" feature
9:38:03 PM Wert: Yes, this show does...SUCK
9:38:11 PM Hardigree33: "Don't call my escorts whores, Michael"
9:38:48 PM Wert: "Dial Mike Tracer"
9:39:14 PM Hardigree33: I don't know, there's a rerun of Girlfriends on the CW
9:39:33 PM Wert: Check out those cobras
9:39:39 PM Wert: Hot detail shots
9:40:01 PM Wert: And the communicator uses Sync with bluetooth
9:40:09 PM Hardigree33: and the cops drive a Ford Escape Hybrid?
9:40:22 PM Wert: Don't all cops drive a Ford Escape Hybrid
9:40:25 PM Wert: ?
9:40:38 PM Hardigree33: What, they couldn't get Chris Cooper?
9:41:03 PM Wert: Is KITT in Vegas for SEMA?
9:41:16 PM Wert: Does he want some sweet carbon fiber appliques for his hood?
9:41:46 PM Hardigree33: "But the cards are hot, I can't go"
9:42:00 PM Wert: "But the cards are hotter than you, I can't go"
9:42:34 PM Hardigree33: Wow, the security at this hotel suck
9:42:38 PM Wert: If the bad guys had the face profiler option for Sync, they'd be able to easily determine who Mike is.
9:42:47 PM Wert: Totally teh suck
9:45:12 PM Hardigree: Tina Fey is hosting SNL this weekend
9:45:23 PM Hardigree: so that makes... one program on NBC worth watching
9:45:31 PM Wert: Ding! Ding! Ding!
9:45:37 PM Wert: Tina Fey = teh hotness
9:45:44 PM Wert: I want Tina Fey inside of me.
9:45:56 PM Hardigree: totally
9:46:07 PM Hardigree: btw,Duke is losing to Wake Forest with 3 minutes to go
9:47:24 PM Hardigree: for those keeping track at home, they're the only team in a big 6 conference with no conference loses
9:47:37 PM Wert: Still not as good as Michigan State
9:48:18 PM Wert: Yo, this Brit dude's pretty good
9:48:28 PM Wert: Except not when he's getting kicked in the no-no spot
9:48:48 PM Hardigree: this brit dude is horrbile
9:48:54 PM Wert: He's awesome
9:48:58 PM Wert: "Nice ride!"
9:49:03 PM Hardigree: he's like Clive Owen's retarded half-brother
9:49:10 PM Wert: Sure — if you like going in a straight line and never turning
9:49:30 PM Wert: He's going to put sugar in Val's gas tank.
9:50:16 PM Wert: What is "chollo?"
9:50:20 PM Hardigree: Latin gansta
9:50:22 PM Hardigree: that's racist
9:50:24 PM Wert: Is that some weird way of saying purple?
9:51:12 PM Wert: Mike's driving a Fusion?
9:51:16 PM Wert: Sorry, Focus
9:51:23 PM Wert: Woodward?
9:51:37 PM Wert: It's a "Focus"
9:52:01 PM Hardigree: he morphs into Chollo
9:52:08 PM Wert: I would have no programmed response for Mike driving a Focus either.
9:52:14 PM Wert: Mike FTL!
9:52:32 PM Wert: Denton hates this Edge commercial
9:53:53 PM Hardigree: i actually like that one
9:54:08 PM Wert: Denton thinks it is false advertising
9:54:10 PM Hardigree: not to disagree with our good looking, smart, check-not-bouncing boss
9:54:16 PM Wert: No Brooklyn hipster's gonna drive an Edge
9:54:47 PM Hardigree: feh
9:54:58 PM Wert: I heart the case girls from Deal or no Deal
9:55:16 PM Hardigree: I heart howie mandell
9:55:39 PM Hardigree: Wow, this is stupid
9:55:52 PM Hardigree: unnecessary plot twist FTW!
9:57:08 PM Wert: Blackrock?
9:57:11 PM Wert: Blackriver?
9:57:14 PM Hardigree: holy shit, is this taking down blackwater?
9:57:17 PM Wert: Blackstone?
9:57:22 PM Wert: Blackwater?
9:57:27 PM Wert: Black is back?
9:57:44 PM Hardigree: who knew that KR was going to make geopolitical commentary
9:58:15 PM Wert: Wait, buying a Focus isn't geopolitical commentary?
9:58:28 PM Wert: "Val, shut up?"
9:58:53 PM Wert: KITT's following them...
9:59:48 PM Hardigree: haha, the bad guys buy chevy
9:59:51 PM Hardigree: go figure
9:59:58 PM Wert: Second unnecessary plot twist
10:00:06 PM Wert: Maybe the Ford money ran out after the first hour
10:00:21 PM Wert: Turbo Boost?
10:00:23 PM Wert: Please?
10:00:25 PM Wert: Nope.
10:00:26 PM Wert: Sad.
10:01:56 PM Wert: Maybe he should have been using Sync
10:03:43 PM Wert: I already had an interactive driving tour of KITT.
10:03:55 PM Wert: Charlie over at io9 says she's never seen Turkish Knight Rider
10:04:04 PM Hardigree: Charlie is missing out
10:04:07 PM Wert: Charlie
10:04:14 PM Wert: Charlie's TOTALLY missing out.
10:06:00 PM Hardigree: Duke, which was 10-0 in the ACC just lost to a team that was 5-5
10:06:03 PM Hardigree: wow
10:06:29 PM Wert: Well, what do you expect — they have a team named after a Corvette
10:06:47 PM Hardigree: The ZR-1s?
10:07:03 PM Wert: The Blue Devils
10:07:05 PM Wert: Ha!
10:07:07 PM Wert: Ha!
10:07:08 PM Wert: Ha.
10:07:12 PM Wert: Or something.
10:07:22 PM Wert: Just fucking pretend it was funny, k?
10:08:10 PM Hardigree: like the people at Ford behind getting involved with this?
10:08:25 PM Hardigree: Me and Mike Traucer have something in comon
10:08:42 PM Hardigree: "Ray... I mean KITT... pull over the car"
10:08:54 PM Wert: Hey, Alan Hall called
10:09:01 PM Hardigree: haha, shit
10:09:03 PM Hardigree: what did he say?
10:09:17 PM Wert: He just watched it all on the corporate jet coming back from the Daytona 500
10:09:37 PM Wert: A Fusion did not win, that's sad.
10:09:45 PM Hardigree: boo
10:09:54 PM Wert: We're all very proud of their effort.
10:10:08 PM Hardigree: wtf is that?
10:10:16 PM Hardigree: is that a ute?
10:10:19 PM Hardigree: chero?
10:10:41 PM Wert: Was that a ranchero?
10:11:08 PM Wert: yes, Hall just said it IS a ranchero — Ford PR is now giving us official confirmation —
10:11:11 PM Wert: Actually he'
10:11:13 PM Wert: s not sure
10:11:36 PM Hardigree: Also, did they just hate on the future hydrogen economy?
10:11:45 PM Wert: The solar hybrid is part of Ford's long-term engine product plan.
10:11:48 PM Hardigree: take that fuel cell equinox
10:11:57 PM Wert: We don't need to live-blog Alan calling me though.
10:12:05 PM Hardigree: yeah
10:13:36 PM Hardigree: that's totally a ranchero
10:13:39 PM Hardigree: 10:10: VINTAGE RANCHERO! Jalopnik will be pleased. 10:14:24 PM Wert: Yeah, I saw
10:14:33 PM Wert: KITT is upset
10:14:41 PM Wert: Who the hell loans someone a Focus?
10:14:42 PM Hardigree: "I can't do that Hal"
10:14:50 PM Wert: Also — did KITT just call the Focus a "her"?
10:15:01 PM Wert: Or did he just call the person who drives a Focus a "her"?
10:15:33 PM Hardigree: hey, Mike Tracier
10:15:36 PM Hardigree: Tracer, get it
10:15:47 PM Hardigree: Focus/Escort/Tracer
10:16:05 PM Wert: Ha. Ha. Ha.
10:16:13 PM Wert: You....slay....me...
10:20:00 PM Wert: Her fuck-friend is named "Brock"?
10:21:20 PM Hardigree: btw, if he'd have been reading a blog instead of a magazine he might still be alive
10:23:59 PM Wert: Hey look, it went to a Wendy's commercial — not a Ford one!
10:24:03 PM Wert: Wendy's FTW!
10:24:14 PM Wert: Something smells fishy to me!
10:24:40 PM Hardigree: you realize you put the convo with alan hall up
10:24:54 PM Wert: Yes
10:24:58 PM Wert: It was funny
10:25:07 PM Wert: Never cut the funny, that's what Spinelli always tells me
10:25:10 PM Wert: Never.
10:25:12 PM Wert: Cut.
10:25:13 PM Wert: The.
10:25:28 PM Wert: Funny
10:25:43 PM Wert: .
10:25:52 PM Hardigree: You know who'd have made a great Mike traucer?
10:25:58 PM Hardigree: Mark Fields
10:26:01 PM Wert: How do we spell his name?
10:26:01 PM Hardigree: he had the hair
10:26:04 PM Wert: Oh totally
10:26:11 PM Hardigree: Traucer, I think
10:26:19 PM Wert: The mullet woulda made a helluva Mike Traucer
10:26:25 PM Wert: Sounds vaguely French to me.
10:16:36 PM Hardigree: I wonder if the sheriff is sheriff sunfire
10:17:42 PM Wert: Is Owen taking time off from his time spent in the crazy-house?
10:18:57 PM Wert: Use KITT's Sync system?
10:19:18 PM Wert: "KITT — Play Artist Lamegasm"
10:25:52 PM Hardigree: You know who'd have made a great Mike traucer?
10:25:58 PM Hardigree: Mark Fields
10:26:01 PM Wert: How do we spell his name?
10:26:01 PM Hardigree: he had the hair
10:26:04 PM Wert: Oh totally
10:26:11 PM Hardigree: Traucer, I think
10:26:19 PM Wert: The mullet woulda made a helluva Mike Traucer
10:26:25 PM Wert: Sounds vaguely French to me.
10:27:16 PM Hardigree: Actually, gotta give Ford credit. They found a show and a script that both appeals to people with bad taste and will be watched, ironically, by people who think they have good taste
10:27:47 PM Wert: Ooh, that may win Commenter Of The Show
10:27:51 PM Wert: Or C.O.T.S.
10:28:22 PM Wert: Dude, he almost got shot by his mom
10:28:33 PM Hardigree: it's like the sarah conner chronicles
10:28:34 PM Wert: How are they all going to fit?
10:28:41 PM Wert: There's NO BACK SEAT!
10:29:07 PM Wert: Another KITT, in another place...
10:29:23 PM Wert: You may know his father...
10:29:28 PM Wert: ...he loves cheeseburgers.
10:30:49 PM Wert: Manually???
10:30:53 PM Wert: Drive KITT Manually????
10:30:55 PM Wert: Oh noes!
10:31:10 PM Hardigree: that's gonna suck
10:31:15 PM Hardigree: who didn't see that one coing
10:31:47 PM Wert: No Mom, don't die!!!
10:31:50 PM Wert: NOOOOO!!!!
10:33:30 PM Wert: oooh, she's a hottie
10:33:55 PM Hardigree: "I'd like to ride in you"
10:34:02 PM Wert: Way too hot to be in a Focus.
10:34:16 PM Wert: KITT is such a cock-block.
10:36:18 PM Hardigree: i'd point out that my fiance has now fallen asleep
10:36:22 PM Hardigree: on the coach
10:36:23 PM Hardigree: couch
10:36:33 PM Hardigree: wow, that one vowel makes a big difference
10:36:43 PM Wert: As has the young lady sitting on the couch here.
10:37:35 PM Wert: How's Mike getting out of this one?
10:37:57 PM Wert: I guess that's how
10:38:20 PM Wert: "That's my father, I'm going with you!"
10:38:23 PM Hardigree: yeah, take the college professor and not the FBI agent
10:38:29 PM Hardigree: she's totally going to be the better shot
10:38:33 PM Wert: What the hell are the bad guys driving?
10:38:38 PM Wert: Is that a Chevy?
10:38:42 PM Wert: With no badging?
10:38:44 PM Hardigree: yeah
10:38:45 PM Hardigree: GMC
10:38:47 PM Hardigree: it was on earlier
10:38:54 PM Wert: Professional Bad Guy Grade
10:39:39 PM Wert: Mustang takes a hit and keeps on tickin'
10:39:46 PM Hardigree: yeah, this has gotten slightly better
10:39:46 PM Wert: Did I mention with ZERO damage?
10:39:51 PM Wert: Oh wait, the glass
10:40:21 PM Wert: Did he just shift with an imaginary stick?
10:40:23 PM Wert: And clutch?
10:40:35 PM Hardigree: is that thing on 24's?
10:40:41 PM Wert: Totally on 24's
10:42:41 PM Wert: Wow, KITT is "Ford Tough"
10:43:06 PM Wert: Wait — I can't believe I'm saying this —
10:43:11 PM Wert: Ford...For...The...Win?
10:43:44 PM Hardigree: and here's the segway into a series
10:44:35 PM Wert: Old man is the only one who survives? Seriously — how not-at-all-likely is that?
10:44:57 PM Hardigree: always wear your seatbelts kids
10:45:09 PM Wert: You're right — even when hacking Mustangs.
10:47:09 PM Hardigree: "The world is insane..."
10:47:16 PM Wert: Driving a Mustang is the definition of insanity?
10:47:19 PM Wert: Or sanity?
10:47:22 PM Wert: I'm confused.
10:48:03 PM Hardigree: "I can't help you, I don't believe in the same things... I don't believe in monogamy, I believe in hydrogen"
10:48:16 PM Wert: Is that a lincoln limo?
10:48:28 PM Wert: Lincoln: Reach Higher to the cemetary
10:48:46 PM Wert: I wonder if Pops makes it back in time to be late to the funeral.
10:49:04 PM Wert: CHEESEBURGER!!!
10:49:10 PM Wert: Robble! Robble!
10:50:26 PM Wert: That was the slowest drag race I've ever seen.
10:50:35 PM Wert: Did a Focus just beat a Mustang?
10:51:00 PM Hardigree: THE HOFF!
10:51:04 PM Wert: Hey Hardigree, you fall asleep over there?
10:51:05 PM Hardigree: I think it did
10:51:08 PM Hardigree: Focus, FTW!
10:51:08 PM Wert: Oh good, there you are.
10:53:32 PM Hardigree: HOFF, HIS HOFFNESS, THE HOFFMEIESTER
10:53:39 PM Wert: Touching.
10:53:45 PM Wert: Check out that mascara!
10:54:04 PM Wert: Damn he looks old
10:54:13 PM Wert: And fat.
10:54:48 PM Hardigree: I can't wait for Baywatch 3000
10:55:34 PM Wert: "I was that man..."
10:55:43 PM Wert: "...except I had an F-body Trans-Am..."
10:56:14 PM Wert: "Will I ever see you again?"
10:56:23 PM Wert: "I hope so...it all depends on what the network says."
10:56:23 PM Hardigree: "Let's see how we do in the demo"
10:57:50 PM Wert: And segue into the new show...
10:58:31 PM Wert: Gratuitous make-out...
10:58:35 PM Wert: Cue the theme
10:58:49 PM Wert: Hit the reverse turbo boost
10:58:58 PM Wert: Too bad Mike can't drive a stick
10:59:07 PM Wert: especially not backwards
10:59:21 PM Wert: Whoa! Nice upgrade from the trailer!
10:59:24 PM Hardigree: wow, a plane is so much better than a trailer
10:59:29 PM Wert: Seriously!
10:59:47 PM Wert: And that, folks, is that — hope you all enjoyed the show!
11:00:05 PM Hardigree: And if you did, I have same land in Florida for sale
11:00:43 PM Wert: Wait — so this was all a commercial for America's Got Talent? I'm so confused.
11:00:49 PM Wert: This movie has warped my fragile little mind.

KITT In Action: Exclusive Video

Mark Arnold — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST

Yesterday, Ray and Wes met KITT in the flesh— er, metal. Today we bring you the video footage of us doing our best Hasslehoff impression during our exclusive Brooklyn rendezvous. The new Knight Rider made-for-television movie premieres tomorrow on NBC, so our test ~~drive~~ ride just came right at our peak of anticipation. And while we still kinda agree with the "never meet your childhood heros" rule, we've gotta admit that the supercharged Mustang GT in GT500KR clothing looks and sounds pretty sweet.

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Wes Siler — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST

Ray and I got to live out a major childhood fantasy of ours earlier today when KITT swung by Brooklyn and offered to take us for a ride. KITT's found new life not as an F-body, but as a Ford Mustang GT500KR. Well, a more accurate description would be a Mustang GT with an automatic transmission — the cast can't drive stick — a supercharger and GT500KR bodywork. They do say, "Never meet your childhood heroes, you'll be disappointed." In this case, they're only partially right.

Knight Rider, the made for TV movie, airs Sunday night on NBC, starring our friend KITT here and a cast of no name, blandly good looking actors. Val Kilmer provides KITT's voice. David Hasselhoff will make a cameo appearance to smooth the transition from 25 years ago to today. It's rumored that should the movie prove successful, we should expect a spin-off series some time in the near future.

In person, KITT is little more than a prop. It's roughly finished and beat to hell. We're some of the first people outside the show, after Jay Leno, to get our hands on the car. We're not NBC employees like Jay, so we couldn't drive the vehicle for liability reasons, but we were able to hop in for a short ride. It felt like a Mustang, one with loud pipes, a plastic interior and lowered suspension; it rides rough as hell. But that's the adult in me speaking. The five year old that still exists somewhere deep inside me is positively giddy with excitement at finally getting the opportunity to ride along with Michael Knight, or at least one of Ford's delivery guys who looked just a little bit like him. NBC's hoping a lot more people's inner child won't be able to resist KITT either.

Photography: Ray Wert and Wes Siler

Knight Rider Rides Again On The Today Show, Now With Added Hasselhoff

Wes Siler — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

KITT made an appearance on the Today Show this morning alongside costar Justin Bruening to promote the new Knight Rider TV Movie. During the show it was revealed that David Hasselhoff will be returning as Michael Knight. Bruening also revealed the loophole that allows the new version to pick up where the old left off, apparently, KITT's true inventor was never identified. Oh joy, what a plot twist.

Turkish Knight Rider Saves Grocery Shoppers From High Interest Rates

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:45:00 EST

Our third installment of Turkish Knight Rider follows his introduction to the cause and his conquest of the Corvette fur coat guy. This time we find out the shape-shifting of the new Knight Rider has its roots in this classic Turkish series... though we don't think the new one will become a shopping cart. This one is fairly easy to figure out, unless our favorite young Turk, Oyumurtaci, has a different translation.

[Source: OPET]

Even The Knight Rider R/C Car Has Turbo Boost

Travis Hudson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:15:00 EST

As far as we can tell, the new GT500KR Mustang KITT still lacks any kind of turbo boost. But now you can still enjoy a little bit of the old Knight Rider turbo in the form of a remote control car. Forget the Mustang—let's return to the Golden Age with the Pontiac Trans-Am KITT remote-control car from Firebox. You'll be the coolest kid in the neighborhood. Your dad will be able to beat up other dads. But not The Hoff, or course.

This R/C car features the famoous KITT strobing lights and is capable of going forward, backward—and using its turbo boost! It makes whooshing sounds and yes, it will even talk to you. No word on whether archived Hasselhoff chest hair is also included. The original Knight Rider KITT remote-control car is available for a relatively modest outlay of $50. [Firebox via Gearlog]

Stuff Happens In New Knight Rider Commercial, For Once

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST

We were getting pretty sick of Knight Rider commercials where nothing happened. In this commercial, brought to us by the folks at Knight Rider Online, we finally get some action. You got your machine gun fire, your explosions, your hand-to-hand combat and your maiden (the certainly illegitimate child of the Hoff). Though a step in the right direction, the lack of removable mullets still makes it inferior to Turkish Knight Rider, our new hero. [Knight Rider Online]

Turkish Knight Rider Rides Again

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:15:00 EST

Everyone had so much fun with with Turkish Knight Rider that we thought we'd share some more of the parody goodness with you. Whereas American Knight Rider merely fights crime with his tricked out ride, Turkish Knight Rider uses GITT to pick up girls, sell gas and mess with jerks in fur coats, which is exactly what we'd do. In this clip GITT races a Corvette around a track inexplicably used as a throughway for Turkish school children. Enjoy! [Source: OPET]

For All Of Those Sick Of Knight Rider: Turkish Knight Rider

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST

We have to admit that any interest most of us had in Knight Rider quickly waned with the news that Will Arnett was out as the voice of K.I.T.T. But we have a new hero! You have to hand it to Turkish gas company OPET for capturing the sentiment, cheese and enthusiasm of the original series. And if you thought a Shelby Mustang was an unlikely heir to the original Pontiac, what could you possibly say about a Fiat-based Murat 124? GITT is truly the new KITT. [Source: OPET]

GMCock-Block: Arnett Out As Voice Of KITT, Val Kilmer In

Travis Hudson — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:22:17 EST

Will Arnett is out as the voice of KITT in NBC's upcoming Knight Rider revival, having been replaced with the Iceman himself, Val Kilmer. Arrested Development star Arnett was forced to pull out due to contractual conflicts; previously he'd done voice over work for GMC.

The swap comes due to Ford's ponying up huge sums of cash for advertising time on NBC to market the casting of the Shelby Mustang GT500KR as the show's star, The Knight Industries Three Thousand. It's believed that Ford was unhappy with the potential boost GMC ads could gain by featuring KITT's voice saying, "It's not more than you need, just more than you're used to."

Personally, we think the new voice for KITT is way sexier anyway. The media fan-boy in us is positively giddy over the potential homoerotic meta-ness Kilmer could bring to the show. "You can be my wingman anytime, Michael."
[Knight Rider Online]

New Knight Rider Commercial Airs, 30 More Seconds Of Less-Than-Exciting Action

Ray Wert — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:15:00 EST

Well, our good friends at Knight Rider Online have the scoop yet again on a new commercial for the new Mustang-ed up Knight Rider mini-series. The show'll be airing on the February 17th. The commercial? From what we understand, that aired last night on Conan O'Brien. The one new bit of info we're able to glean from the 30-seconds of 'stang-love is we get to see KITT's voice modulator for the first time. Oh yay. Want to see the other commercials? They're here, here and here and oh yes, here. We're going to get back to covering the Chicago Auto Show now. [via Knight Rider Online]

KITT PC Casemod is Hasselhoff-Approved

Travis Hudson — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:45:00 EST

Last year's Transformers is this year's Knight Rider if you couldn't already tell from all of the news including the first photos, trailers and more. Now we have something a bit astray from the new Knight Rider Shelby GT500KR, but equally as cool, at least in my techie book—a KITT PC casemod! The casemod features somewhat authentic lights and sounds of the older KITT. It even has a remote starter and pretty gauges that may or may not function.

Now while this mod doesn't have the ability to converse with you, it does include the ability to wow all of the ladies, leaving you a busy man this Valentine's Day. Thomas Fan is the mastermind behind this work of art. [Wired]

New Knight Rider Commercial: Like Us, KITT Hates Valet

Ray Wert — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:15:00 EST

We hate valet service. Nothing gives us more fear on earth than dropping off a vehicle — any vehicle — to some pimple-faced 17-year-old with a heavy ~~left~~ right foot and an inability to discern 2nd from reverse. Looks like the Mustang-derived KITT's got the same security issues we feel in this new commercial for the new Knight Rider movie/series/sequel dubbed "Valet." We just want to give the new GT500KR look-a-like a big hug and tell him everything's gonna be alright...don't cry...there, there.

[via Knight Rider Online]

Detroit Auto Show: KITT Heading to Detroit to Play on Ford Stage

Ray Wert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:12:03 EST

We're hearing among the "plethora" of official reveals from Ford at the Detroit Auto Show this weekend will be an additional piece of product pr0n to feast our eyes on — for the second time (we know you remember the first time our Gawker LA videographer Molly caught KITT. That's right, our sources tell us the GT500KR-like Mustang GT playing the role of KITT in the new Knight Rider movie/TV show/Mini-Series/whatevs will be on display for the media come Sunday morning. Now if only they'd fly Will Arnett out so we could hear it say "Mark Fields, jump in!" Yes, that'd be epic. Of course you too can follow along live at our Detroit Auto Show tag page, or if you're technically inclined, hit up the RSS feed for your fave feed reader — or just keep madly hitting refresh on our main page — whatever works best for you. Because that's what we're all about here — you. And cars. And sometimes, the Hoff.

Ein Auto, Ein Computer, Ein Mann! German Knight Rider Intro

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST

It's been a whole 30 seconds since we've posted something about the New Knight Rider and we were starting to get the shakes. But, c'mon, look at that smile. Is it any wonder that the Germans love David Hasselhoff? Two esses, two effs, all man. We love the voice over, it's kind of angry and threatening. Did this guy found the Neue Deutsche Härte movement? So Ze Germans. Enjoy. [YouTube]

New Clip From New Knight Rider, Still No Turbo Boost

Ray Wert — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:32:40 EST

No turbo boost in the first 15-second teaser of the new KITT, no turbo boost in the second, 30-second commercial for NBC's new Knight Rider, and now we're here. How sad is it there's now a third video — a minute-and-a-half clip from the new Knight Rider movie/show now up on the interwebs, yet still no turbo boost. Yes, sure, there's plenty more moments of the new Shelby-fied Ford Mustang GT500KR-powered KITT in action and there's the new shots of the new Hoff-ness, Mike Tracer. There's even some great ignition sounds of the big 550-HP 'Stang — but there's certainly no boost of a turbo nature. Although we hear Ford's working on that.

[via Knight Rider Online]