Jalopnik: Knight Rider

Original K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider" goes up for auction

Justin Hyde — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EDT

If you're a child of the early '80s, there are two cars that sprung from the cathode TV sets and permanently lodged in your little brain. One was the General Lee, and the other was K.I.T.T. — which can now be yours for the right price. More »

For $16,000, this repli-KITT has no kaboodle

graverobber — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EDT

The F-body Firebird may never have featured a Hofmeister kink in its roofline, but you could pretend to be Mr. Hasselhoff in today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Knight Rider replicar, and that would be kinky. More »

Hip Hop's Worst Knight Rider Tribute

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST

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What happens when you hire a director to make a Knight Rider-themed music video who has never seen Knight Rider? You get Curren$y's NSFW video for "Micheal Knight." Mean hook aside, is it that hard to find a Trans Am? More »

What If KITT Had Been A Mini Cooper?

Ray Wert — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:30:00 EDT

Automobile associate editor and former Jalopnik intern Eric Tingwall changes the voice on the very-limited-edition 2010 Mini Cooper Camden's gimmicky "Mission Control" feature, turning it into KITT from Knight Rider. Don't touch that non-existent turbo boost, Tingwall! More »

Video: KITT’s Cry For Help

Wes Siler — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EDT

It's been 28 years since KITT had a successful show. In that time his position in popular culture has slipped from hero to laughing stock, making increasingly minor appearances to fuel his hamburger habit. Evidently, he misses Michael too. More »

Hilariously Awesome Throwback T-Shirts: Chariots Retired

The Auto Insider — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EDT

TeeFury just released for sale an unbelievably cool ultra-limited edition t-shirt titled, 'Chariots Retired,' portraying our favorite TV and movie cars from the 80's including K.I.T.T., Optimus Prime, the Ghostbuster's Ecto-1, Airwolf and more. More »

College Dorm Windows Hacked To Look Like KITT

Peter Orosz — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:45:00 EDT

What is it with comp sci kids and their college dorms? Hacking the windows to serve as a lo-res display probably goes back to the earliest days of the integrated circuit. More »

2010 Camaro Begins Transmogrification To KITT

Ray Wert — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EDT

F-body Pontiac Trans Am or Shelby GT500KR it's not, but someone's started the process of turning their brand spankin' new Chevy Camaro into Knight Rider's KITT with a blue flashing light bar in its nostril-like hood scoop. [via Camaro5] More »

A Tale Of Two KITTs

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

This may be the first time we've seen the old n' trusted Trans Am-based KITT and the new n' busted Mustang GT500KR-based KITT together at the same time. Seems like it's PSA time. More »

Every Classic Knight Rider Turbo Boost Sequence In One Video

Wes Siler — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

KITT's Turbo Boost is an awesome car feature, right? So, every box-crashing, Styrofoam rock-smashing Turbo Boost sequence ever, packed into one video must be the most awesome thing ever, right? It is. More »

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] More »

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] More »

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! More »

Behold The Self-Parking Volkswagen Minivan!

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

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). More »

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] More »

Knight Rider Premieres Tonight

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

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] More »

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. More »

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. More »

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. More »

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. More »

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. More »

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: More »

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. More »

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] More »

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] More »

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. More »

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] More »

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! More »

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] More »

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. More »

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. More »

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! More »

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: More »

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. More »

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. More »

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. More »

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. More »

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. More »