Knight Rider Breaks Cover: Ford Mustang GT500KR

Motoring Channel Staff - 14/December/2007

California, America — Fans of cult 1980s television show Knight Rider will know that a new modern day 2-hour tele-movie has been commissioned, but which car would play KITT was unclear.

Until now. The self-aware, super intelligent car known as KITT will be a Ford Mustang GT500KR, a 403kW (540hp) street machine finished in sinister black.

Ford is clearly very happy with the decision for NBC to choose it ahead of GM, whose Pontiac Trans Am was the original KITT car (stay tuned for a hands-on road test of a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am soon!).

It was expected that Pontiac would again get the gong, with KITT being the new 2009 Camaro or even something more exotic. 

NBC has revealed that there will be three cars employed in the series: KITT Hero -- a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with a stonking 400kW+ at its disposal; the KITT Attack -- a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms into Attack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized body parts -- and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.

David Hasslehoff will return to the big budget 2-hour telemovie as the same character in a special guest-star appearance, and the this movie is expected to be 'pilot' of sorts that could be followed by a full season of Knight Rider if enough people in America tune in.

It is being produced by Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") so it could be quite a thrill ride with lots of explosions and definitely a few burnouts.

Story (Source: NBC Press release): "As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

"Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.

"Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.