Pics Aplenty: More pics of Knight Rider's new Fordified KITT
click above for more images, including a desktop-wallpaper of above shot
We'd be proud too if we were Ford. Somehow the Blue Oval managed to convince NBC that the voice of Will Arnett and its Shelby GT500KR would make a perfect fit for an updated KITT on the boob tube. Today we found a couple new pics of the Fordified KITT and higher-resolution versions of the ones we showed yesterday on Ford's media site. To recap, there will three versions of KITT in the new Knight Rider TV show: a standard KITT Hero car, a more combative and winged KITT Attack (shown above), and KITT Remote for when the protagonist whispers into his Seiko watch, "KITT, I need help." We think KITT being a Shelby GT500KR is quite the coup for Ford. The upcoming Chevy Camaro seemed like a better fit, if for no other reason than Pontiac doesn't have a car that would fit the role and the original KITT was at least an F-body. Regardless, we're excited to see the new KITT when the TV show kicks off with a 2-hour Knight Rider movie on February 17th, and while we don't expect it to be, you know, good, we'll tune in to see if the GT500KR has got any acting chops.
[Source: Ford]
UPDATE: Ford's official press release added after jump.
PRESS RELEASE:
2008 FORD SHELBY GT500KR LANDS STARRING ROLE ON KNIGHT RIDER
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 13, 2007 -- When the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR launches this spring don't be surprised if there's some confusion over what the letters "KR" stand for.
While the super car has been known to racing fans as "King of the Road" since 1968, it's about to star in a remake of the hit TV series Knight Rider making mix-ups inevitable.
"It's purely a coincidence and a nice one at that,"" said Al Uzielli a senior advisor, to Ford Global Brand Entertainment the Ford office in Beverly Hills which works to place Ford branded vehicles in movies, TV and other media. "Auto enthusiasts will know what KR stands for. But most viewers will probably think it means Knight Rider; at least at first."
The popular American television series which ran from 1982 to 1986 starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a kind of modern day "knight". His partner was an advanced Pontiac Trans Am with artificial intelligence. Not only could it talk, it could morph into an attack vehicle that accelerated to 300 mph, used a Turbo Boost to jump over obstacles and even drive itself.
In the new version, Hasselhoff returns, but the lead character is now Justin Bruening who plays Knight's long-lost son Michael Tracer. Replacing the Pontiac is the KR which in real-life is about to launch a 40th anniversary limited edition with an engine output estimated at 540 horsepower.
But Knight Rider is more than just the product integration of a Ford vehicle into a plot line; it's also a media sponsorship with commercials and promotions for Ford products interjected throughout the two hour program. If the ratings are good, NBC plans to turn the show into a weekly series this fall.
Knight Rider will provide Ford with the opportunity to showcase its new SYNC voice activated information and entertainment technology into the storyline in vehicles like the Focus and Edge. The arrangement allows NBC and Ford to co-promote both the movie and the cars at special events, in theaters, in print and on the internet.
"This is a completely car-centric show and my understanding is that NBC was heavily pursued by both GM and Chrysler," Uzielli said. "We landed it because not only did we have the perfect car, we had the right logistics. Our advertising agency Teamdetroit had strong contacts on the business side and our team at Ford Global Brand Entertainment had a close relationship with the creative side including the new head of NBC Entertainment Ben Silverman."
For many Knight Rider fans the casting of the car known as KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is as important as the lead character.
In the movie version, KITT's supercomputer is capable of hacking almost any system 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 good cop partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car – and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.
For designers, the first challenge of creating a screen version of the "King of the Road" 2008 Shelby GT500KR, was that the car isn't even on the road yet. The solution was to go to Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) who is well-known for creating one-of-a-kind vehicles in the California market.
GAS had one week to create the new KITT, and they pulled out all the stops. Six people worked full time to create the Mustang that would be sent over to Picture Car Warehouse as the father of all the KITT derivatives and stunt cars.
Not only does KITT make its appearance as a GT500KR but Knight Rider fans get to see KITT in three modes – HERO, ATTACK and camouflage versions.
The HERO is a standard 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR and the ATTACK is a further modified high-speed version.
The GT500KR is built up from a Mustang GT with an automatic transmission to facilitate the driving scenes, stunts, and camera work necessary to produce the great action scenes in the movie. Stunt versions were also built for doing all of the aggressive driving maneuvers.
The ATTACK version was designed by Harold Belker who is also responsible for the vehicles in movies like Batman & Robin, Armageddon, Deep Blue Sea, Inspector Gadget, Battlefield Earth, Spider-Man, Minority Report, XXX, The Cat in the Hat and Superman.
Working with Belker was Ted Moser of Picture Car Warehouse and 25 automotive specialists who, created six variations of the GT500KR. The ATTACK car features a new rear bumper cover, two-tiered spoiler, side scoops and custom rocker panels... not to mention a completely modified interior to accommodate creative needs, shooting and post production computer graphics.
"Ford wanted to keep KITT as close to the Mustang Shelby GT500KR as possible," Belker said. "Some may say the ATTACK version is a little over the top, but this isn't about reinventing design language, it's about being entertaining."
By the time Knight Rider debuts in February, a Mustang will have already had extensive media exposure in the movie I Am Legend which opens December 17. Starring Will Smith, the story gives major screen time to a Ford Shelby GT500. Between the two roles, the Mustang brand is about to get three months worth of the kind of Hollywood visibility not often seen by one product – or for that matter one star.
"I don't think we've ever seen anything like this," said Cindy Stacy, senior vice president and director of national broadcast for Teamdetroit. "The important thing is that while the Mustang has a starring role in both projects, other Ford vehicles are integrated throughout the films. In fact, in Knight Rider I think just about every Ford vehicle is accounted for."
While some may see the timing of the two projects as pure luck, Frank Zazza, considered a legend in the product integration industry for placing products like Reese's Pieces in the movie ET and Junior Mints in a well known episode of Seinfeld, says it's more.
"You can only call it luck if you realize that being lucky is being prepared when the opportunity comes," he said. "The people at Ford were prepared and they knew how to act quickly. They have been excellent at finding quality projects and putting the right vehicles into the right parts."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Wendy 2:14PM (2/05/2008)
"How's KITT going to turbo boost into the air with all that downforce?"
Well, they could argue that KITT can adjust the angle "on the fly"
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icu812ru469 10:22AM (12/13/2007)
What the? The front end looks like a sad face... I foresee a "sad" series... like the new Bubonic Woman...
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calebe 3:13PM (12/13/2007)
bubonic woman, ROFLMAO!
500 9:35PM (12/13/2007)
Ugh, this sucks. So much potential down the toilet. They really should have hired someone mature enough to remember and appreciate Knight Rider Season 1.
Yar 10:22AM (12/13/2007)
Thats the gayest thing I've ever seen, and I just saw two guys making out in a Mini Cooper.
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cowboy bob 12:15PM (12/13/2007)
Hey big boy, you didn't by chance get the plate on that Mini?........
calebe 3:10PM (12/13/2007)
It wasn't me, I'm at work slacking, wait, what color was that mini?
Erik 10:25AM (12/13/2007)
"To recap, there will three versions of KITT in the new Knight Rider TV show".....
it's a shame, 3 versions can't be what the original was.
Pitty too, seeing as how chevy has used NBC in the past, why they wouldn't use a blackout Z06. I believe it was already stated, Ford had to shell-out big time for this.
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boulderhorn 10:27AM (12/13/2007)
I just threw-up a little more...
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John R 10:27AM (12/13/2007)
Ford Knight Ricer = fail
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Ruby007 10:33AM (12/13/2007)
You guys are such haters, just give it a chance i know for a fact that if this car was any german car ex. BMW or Audi you guys would be all over it.
Its a new series and it needs a modern new car and ford seems to have what they need because what else can they use, the camaro is not even out and who knows when its coming out.
John R 10:56AM (12/13/2007)
No...if it were a Corvette we'd be all over it. :)
icu812ru469 11:09AM (12/13/2007)
You shi*ting me? A German car to be KITT would "jump the shark" before even the first episode...
Jeff 12:00PM (12/13/2007)
Some jackass on Engadget said that the new KITT should be a Benz SL65 or a "Buggati" Veyron.
No. No no no.
If this was a BMW or Audi, it would be EVEN WORSE. At least it's a muscle car. Still...F+ for the whole thing, and the plus is just for Will Arnett.
AMERIKANCHOPPERZ 7:46PM (1/23/2009)
Your just jealous because your not driving the new KITT thats what its all about plain out jealousy !!!!!
Ray 10:30AM (12/13/2007)
Three versions for the production, but the show, I'm assuming would just have one version that will transform depending upon the situation.
I guess they wanted to be X-TREME!!!!!! so they have two wings. Just watch, that will be the big trend next year on the streets....oh wait, thats happening now.
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EskimoPie 10:29AM (12/13/2007)
I think what's really sad is that it's most likely not a real GT-500KR... in fact it's probably just some lame V6 that they slapped a hood and some ugly 'aero' pieces on (don't get me started on the wing), call it a 'KR', AND still get paid a ton of money from Ford. It's a sin.
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ToMiTa 10:37AM (12/13/2007)
You got it!! It will be fun to see how many black 6 cyl Stangs get folded in two after the many ramp jumps.
AltairDusk 10:32AM (12/13/2007)
Way to ruin the show's revival before it even starts...
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David(Postal) 10:32AM (12/13/2007)
I did actually like it until I saw the double wing that makes no sense
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