Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood - Jalopnik Comments

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

simona — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:30:53 EST

Very sad indeed. When we were in our teams, KITT was the future and the future was cool. Now that we have grown up and hopefully gotten more intelligent and they put out a piece of crap like that?? None of the tech of that car is futuristic at all. The interior looks like a desktop was jammed in the head unit. 500hp? Its all just power, its how you control the power and the mustang still uses caveman technolgy for its rear drivertrain. I bet any european cars can kick its ass, ie BMW M3v8, M5, Audi RS4, S6, R8..etc.

The producer must think these dumbasses will watch anything retro even trash.

simona

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facingtraffic — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:17:10 EST

@smokyburnout: I'm going to assume that was you being snarky. But seriously, someone has to drive it.

facingtraffic

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

cemtex — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:56:45 EST

I dont like how it is not GM, but I do like the twin screw whipple in there.

cemtex

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

the good dr zero — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:29:12 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: But how are you then going to rest your right elbow on the window sill?

the good dr zero

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

IronEagle — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:58:10 EST

Benson2175 yes indeed. That is the way Team Knight Rider was as well over 10 years ago. With the Mustang and the Expedition and F150. "Beast" heh. There were a few good episodes of that show.

I was very disapointed when they did not have the black Trans Am in the earlier Knight Rider 2000 tv movie from the 90's.

I would think 26 years after the car was produced it would be ok to have KITT in the Ford advertisement. With a classic vehicle like an 82 Trans Am I would figure it would be the same as another show having a 69 Camaro or a 55 Chevy.

I could see Ford not wanting it in the series if there were still a Trans Am on the market. I hope Ford aren't dicks about this and KITT can be used in flashbacks or even in a few episodes of a new series.

IronEagle

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Benson2175 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:16:42 EST

@IronEagle: As cool as that would be, you are forgetting that this isn't actually a show, it's an advertisement for Ford vehicles with some 80's TV show love wedged in. No Fbodies allowed. That's why the logos can't be blacked out. Story art be dammed, this is the new marketing. I actually loathe this show and the current car ads that are 'slyly hidden' with in TV shows and movies. Great Bond movie; didn't need the fucking Mondeo ad in the middle. Every movie now has a car sponsor, it's sickening. End Rant.

Benson2175

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Morphine — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:45:24 EST

So, it's not even a real GT500KR?

It's bad enough we're stuck with a Ford, which is an ersatz KITT in the first place. Then they stick us with an ersatz GT-KR thing? An Ersatz-ersatz; a GT pretending to be a GT500KR, pretending to be KITT.

I guess Mustangs have always pretended to be fast, so it's not new ground. What's next? They'll pretend to go 'round corners?

I'm still going to watch the premier, but I promise not to like it. I also promise to insult every last detail about a car I would saw off a finger to own. I also promise to drink a shot every time Hoff pops on screen, or does something Hoff-like, in his infinite Hoffness.

Morphine

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

toasteroven — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:41:03 EST

You guys do realize that there are several versions of a film car built, right? This is probably the exterior filming model, as the one with all the nice interior detail work (if you look at the commercials, the interior is not a hot glue job from hell) which is called the "hero" car, is probably never let out of NBC's hands.

And to the poster that commented about the steering wheel missing the top... dude... that's like saying the General Lee was yellow.

toasteroven

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

smokyburnout — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:23:03 EST

@facingtraffic: it's a sentient automobile. it shifts whenever it wants to shift. it has no need for a shift lever. of course, that could make a manual override more interesting, to say the least... maybe there's some hidden paddle shifters.

smokyburnout

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

IronEagle — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:15:53 EST

Please oh please oh please have the original KITT the Knight Industries Two Thousand and Michael come back to save the day for the Three Thousand. Talk about a perfect passing of the torch. The new driver and KITT are in big trouble all hope is lost when you hear the classic original Turbo Boost sound and KITT comes flying through the wall landing and taking out six of the bad henchmen. It will be brilliant.

IronEagle

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Brian B — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:06:58 EST

Kitt's got a slushie??? Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo stick, they're actors! Can't they just ACT like they can drive a stick?!?

Brian B

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

facingtraffic — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:39:04 EST

It may be an automatic, but what'd they do with the shifter?

facingtraffic

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

CARBONFIBER — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:47:51 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy:

I was thinking the same thing. Imagine you're in the middle of a turn & the steering wheel catches your pants! Kaboom

CARBONFIBER

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

camp6ell — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:25:42 EST

if none of the editors are in detroit, why are you pretending to be? the bit that was recently added to the masthead, i mean.

camp6ell

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

smokyburnout — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:24:43 EST

i kinda hope the analog gauges don't make it into the tv show, but i doubt i'll even watch this now...

smokyburnout

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79TA — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:29:39 EST

I met Ron Fellows (my hero) and wasn't dissappointed. He probably thinks I stalk him now though given how many times I run into him at each Long Beach Grand Prix.

79TA

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

b33g33 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:17:28 EST

a future engine should look like this

Apologies for the bad quality, I'm too lazy to get a decent screen cap.

In case you're wondering, this is where its from:

Remember the 80's?

b33g33

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:37:28 EST

@Mad_Science: Keep on thinkin'..

The stiff British resolve, and all that....

Old chap....

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:35:55 EST

@Unevolved: Yeah, obviously I'm talking in the UK, not with your girlfriend running along outside the car....

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Mad_Science — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:31:45 EST

@Unevolved: He's in Britain.

I wonder what else they do backwards over there...

Mad_Science

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Nicholas Carlson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:16:00 EST

Is KITT a mustang? No.

Nicholas Carlson

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

TriShield — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:05:14 EST

The original KITT was executed so much better. This one is postively sloppy. At least the hood scanners look cool though.

TriShield

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stuffagalia — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:04:55 EST

The twelve year old in me gets pissed off when he thinks about KITT.

At one time, Universal Studios in LA had a KITT mock-up that you could sit in and talk with. Being just a wee dork, I asked him how many bytes where in a kilobyte. He says 1,000. I tell him he's wrong, it's 1,024. He says, no, it's 1,000. First time I ever got into an argument with a car.

stuffagalia

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Unevolved 8.04 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:04:24 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: It's very true, if you swap the directions.

Unevolved 8.04

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Nayrlladnar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:52:48 EST

10 and 2 was great when steering wheels were 18'' in diameter.

Nayrlladnar

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

oyumurtaci — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:52:02 EST

I'd say they just thought it would be cool to get the control column off a Learjet, hence the 'steering wheel' with no top. Either that, or that Momo model had F1 style lights on the top but the producers thought the instrument dials of KITT/Mustang was more high-tech looking than a 5000 dollar F1 steering wheel.

The blower is there so they can justify not having 'turbo boost' by having psuedo 'blower boost' for which you have to dial a code into the console. 1-800-FAST for example. Or 1-800-GITT for when the Stang craps out.

oyumurtaci

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Rocketeer — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:50:48 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: I like the way you think.

Rocketeer

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

SwatLax — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:50:42 EST

Ray: now that the picture's be altered and Pierre is safe from prank calls, I only ask that you fulfill one of my three wishes:
1. Get up to date with the introductions
2. Tell us about your reunion
3. Get a podcast going!

SwatLax

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

DustyButt — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:47:36 EST

@Rust-MyEnemy: Great minds...

DustyButt

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

amblito — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:44:40 EST

@jdepould: Me too

amblito

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

rlj676 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:42:43 EST

@Mad_Science:

That was exactly what I thought. That supercharger money could've paid for the rest of the steering wheel they couldn't afford.

rlj676

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:41:26 EST

I like right hand at about 5, left hand on girlfriends thigh.

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

SundaySunday — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:41:15 EST

I'd like this show to tank, so Jon Lovitz can buy the Mustang and drive it in Benchwarmers II: Breaking Training.

SundaySunday

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DustyButt — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:40:28 EST

@Mad_Science: That's so they can parade the car about at car shows, malls in middle america, or any other promotional event. They tint the windows, prop the hood, rope the car off, and charge a couple of XXXX dollars per hour.

DustyButt

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jdepould — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:36:26 EST

I think it's actually harder to drive at 10 and 2 than 9 and 3.

jdepould

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Unregular — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:33:45 EST

in fact, that wheel - and especially the location of those metal thumbpads, keeping you from wrapping your thumb around - would be perfect for training people how to hold the wheel properly and avoid breaking your face/nose/arms if the airbags deploy.

Unregular

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SwatLax — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:31:05 EST

@teargas: but serious... I didn't put the number in my comment because I didn't want Ray to get in trouble and eliminate all chances that he would get to finally drive an R8.

That said, I do have the number in my phone for when I'm looking to trick out a Mustang.

SwatLax

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McBrace — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:30:54 EST

OH MY GOD HOFF <------ Man oh ok then

McBrace

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Razor1973 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:28:44 EST

Those metal inserts on the side of the center stack look VERY cheap and the job is quite poor. Thank God all shots inside the car will be dark during the show.

Also, did sparco have a sale on heavily worn out seats?

Let's call Pierre Hofman and ask him. *LOL*

Razor1973

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

TriShield — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:28:29 EST

I'm resigned to KITT being a Mustang but I really wish they had blacked out the wheels, badges and lights to give it a more sinister look like the original.

TriShield

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Pete Gaines — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:27:30 EST

@pmindemann: You've never seen Knight Rider before, have you?

Pete Gaines

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Unregular — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:25:43 EST

oh and - nice supercharger.

Unregular

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Unregular — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:25:32 EST

@pmindemann: you know they changed it from 10-and-2 to 9-and-3?

"they" are a sneaky bunch.

Unregular

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teargas — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:24:43 EST

@SwatLax: I am going to call him and confirm that he ok'd it to be posted on Jalopnik.

teargas

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Mysterious Utility Bento — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:21:41 EST

@DustyButt: Will the magic of Hollywood make this a Trans Am Again??

Mysterious Utility Bento

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Mad_Science — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:21:08 EST

I'm really curious why they took the trouble to install the blower.

I'm assuming there are no shots under the hood (it's way too ugly under there to be a super-future car), and it's not like 400hp's going to do anything that 300hp wouldn't for the purposes of being a prop.

Mad_Science

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:20:56 EST

That steering wheel would be great if the car was like, half a turn lock to lock, as it is it must be a total pain in the arse.

Looks like Grade 6b did the interior as a school project.

With bits 'n bobs they found lying around.....

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

DustyButt — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:20:17 EST

@impreza: Because in post-production that crap will be edited or treated in order to hide it. Nothing is free. 90% of the time, in real life, props for TV and the movies look like sh!t.

That's the magic of hollywood.

DustyButt

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

pmindemann — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:18:30 EST

@Nayrlladnar:

Yeah, those slats are terribly mis-aligned. I sure hope this car isn't one being used for interior shots... that's just embarrassing.

Oh yeah, and cheesy as all get-out. Kinda like the Momo wheel missing the part of the wheel that's supposed to be held (whether you drive with a hand on top, or one each at 10 and 2, it's all missing). Dumb.

pmindemann

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Mad_Science — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:17:17 EST

Feh

Mad_Science

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impreza — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:15:54 EST

@Nayrlladnar:

That is called poor interior customization, my friend.
"poor interior customization" Remember it. This is what hot glue and little aluminum coupons look like.

Very disappointing. The rest looks great, but the interior is trashed. Why do the seats look like they've been worn into the ground?

impreza

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Nayrlladnar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:13:41 EST

What's up with the slats in the console?

Nayrlladnar

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

SwatLax — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:13:35 EST

You guys might want to cover up Pierre Hoffman's personal phone number...

SwatLax

Exclusive: Jalopnik Lifts KITT's Hood

Mysterious Utility Bento — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:11:46 EST

Bird spotted over Ray and Wes's office:

[defamer.com]

Mysterious Utility Bento