Dreamcast18
12-13-2007, 01:10 AM
BURBANK, Calif. — NBC Universal this morning introduced to the press the Knight Industries Three Thousand — Mustang-based successor to the Knight Industries Two Thousand. That's right, this Shelby GT500KR (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/newyork/2007/2008fordshelbygt500kr.html) is the new KITT and, just like its illustrious '80s predecessor, it talks.
Knight Rider, the TV series that shoved David Hasselhoff and a talking Pontiac Trans Am into our collective consciousness, is coming back in the form of an updated two-hour TV movie early next year. The new movie stars Justin Bruening as "Mike Tracer" a 23-year-old Iraq war veteran who, it happens, is also the son of Michael Knight, the character played by Hasselhoff in the original series.
The plot is pretty convoluted, but by the end of the movie it's a dead certainty that Tracer will wind up behind the wheel of the new KITT, ready to wander across America dispensing justice while the car spews out ironic bon mots. And yes, Hasselhoff himself appears in the movie as a guest star playing his old character.
Apparently, the Team Knight Rider revival of the series from 1997 and '98 has been sunk down a memory hole. Just forget that it ever happened.
To portray the new KITT, Ford donated six production Mustangs to the film studio. Since the GT500KR isn't yet available, the cars were actually Mustang GTs equipped with automatic transmissions. (Automatics are preferred for film work.) The initial mechanical and bodywork on the prototype KITT was done by Galpin Auto Sports — from MTV's Pimp My Ride — and includes not only the necessary body pieces but reinforcements from the Ford Racing catalog including a lowered suspension and a Whipple supercharger. That blower, says Ford, swells output of the 4.6-liter SOHC V8 from 300 to about 500 horsepower.
KITT's spacey interior was built at Ted Moser's Picture Car Warehouse with some elements, including an onboard video system, actually functional. Of course, nerd drones working on computers will supply most of the effects.
But each KITT had its own specialty. The first is the Galpin-built "Prototype." The "Hero" KITT is used for most of the close-up work with the actors and in shots where the car is supposed to look pretty. The "Attack" KITT adds wings and other elements for when the car finds itself in battle. The "Pod" KITT allows the actors to act in the car while it's actually piloted by a stuntman in a pod. There's a "Buck" that can be split open in various ways for camera access. Finally, "Remote Control" version was built for when the stunts got too hairy for anyone to actually be aboard.
In place of the droll William Daniels, who provided the voice of KITT during the original series, this one will speak through comedian Will Arnett, who was on Arrested Development but is probably best known from the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory. And yes, there's a rad (RAD!) red light that scans across the hood scoops.
Since the old series ran from 1982-'86, that means Mike Tracer was probably conceived some time late in the second season and born about midway through the third season. That will make watching reruns of those old episodes so much more intriguing! Speculate away about which comely guest star is Tracer's mom!
The movie is set to air February 17. If there's not at least one ludicrous jump in it, the filmmakers will have failed.
What this means to you: For two hours, you'll be 11 years old again. Or 10. Or maybe six. — John Pearley Huffman, Correspondent
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/1.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/2.kitt.500.jpg
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http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/5.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/6.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/7.kitt.500.jpg
Knight Rider, the TV series that shoved David Hasselhoff and a talking Pontiac Trans Am into our collective consciousness, is coming back in the form of an updated two-hour TV movie early next year. The new movie stars Justin Bruening as "Mike Tracer" a 23-year-old Iraq war veteran who, it happens, is also the son of Michael Knight, the character played by Hasselhoff in the original series.
The plot is pretty convoluted, but by the end of the movie it's a dead certainty that Tracer will wind up behind the wheel of the new KITT, ready to wander across America dispensing justice while the car spews out ironic bon mots. And yes, Hasselhoff himself appears in the movie as a guest star playing his old character.
Apparently, the Team Knight Rider revival of the series from 1997 and '98 has been sunk down a memory hole. Just forget that it ever happened.
To portray the new KITT, Ford donated six production Mustangs to the film studio. Since the GT500KR isn't yet available, the cars were actually Mustang GTs equipped with automatic transmissions. (Automatics are preferred for film work.) The initial mechanical and bodywork on the prototype KITT was done by Galpin Auto Sports — from MTV's Pimp My Ride — and includes not only the necessary body pieces but reinforcements from the Ford Racing catalog including a lowered suspension and a Whipple supercharger. That blower, says Ford, swells output of the 4.6-liter SOHC V8 from 300 to about 500 horsepower.
KITT's spacey interior was built at Ted Moser's Picture Car Warehouse with some elements, including an onboard video system, actually functional. Of course, nerd drones working on computers will supply most of the effects.
But each KITT had its own specialty. The first is the Galpin-built "Prototype." The "Hero" KITT is used for most of the close-up work with the actors and in shots where the car is supposed to look pretty. The "Attack" KITT adds wings and other elements for when the car finds itself in battle. The "Pod" KITT allows the actors to act in the car while it's actually piloted by a stuntman in a pod. There's a "Buck" that can be split open in various ways for camera access. Finally, "Remote Control" version was built for when the stunts got too hairy for anyone to actually be aboard.
In place of the droll William Daniels, who provided the voice of KITT during the original series, this one will speak through comedian Will Arnett, who was on Arrested Development but is probably best known from the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory. And yes, there's a rad (RAD!) red light that scans across the hood scoops.
Since the old series ran from 1982-'86, that means Mike Tracer was probably conceived some time late in the second season and born about midway through the third season. That will make watching reruns of those old episodes so much more intriguing! Speculate away about which comely guest star is Tracer's mom!
The movie is set to air February 17. If there's not at least one ludicrous jump in it, the filmmakers will have failed.
What this means to you: For two hours, you'll be 11 years old again. Or 10. Or maybe six. — John Pearley Huffman, Correspondent
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/1.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/2.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/3.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/4.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/5.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/6.kitt.500.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/1212/7.kitt.500.jpg