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REPORT: Ford bought Mustang the role of KITT

John Neff — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford

click above for more images of the new KITT

Wouldn't you like to believe that the producers of the new Knight Rider series saw something in the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that evoked the essence of what it is to be KITT? Yeah, that's not what happened. According to AdAge, Ford snagging the role of KITT had more to do with timing and a certain boat load of money that was exchanged hands. As we've explained before, Pontiac doesn't even have a car that would be suitable for the part of KITT, while the Camaro just wouldn't have been ready in time. Same goes for the Dodge Challenger. That leaves the Ford Mustang, which found a new way to enjoy its time without a competitor in sight by taking some acting lessons and landing the spot. Curiously, Jalopnik reports that the article, which isn't accessible without a subscription (natch) mentions that the Chrysler Crossfire was being considered. Not that it should have ever gotten the job, but Chrysler cancelled the Crossfire anyway. We're sure the Corvette was being considered, if for no other reason than it would have made as much sense in the role as the GT500KR, but we guess GM didn't think it was money well spent. Time will tell whether or not Ford's investment was a smart one.

[Source: Adage via Jalopnik]

Gallery: The new KITT - OFFICIAL PHOTOS

REPORT: Ford bought Mustang the role of KITT originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: More pics of Knight Rider's new Fordified KITT

John Neff — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:13:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

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.

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: More pics of Knight Rider's new Fordified KITT

Pics Aplenty: More pics of Knight Rider's new Fordified KITT originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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