PICS: New KITT is a Mustang Shelby
December 13, 2007

On Wednesday, December 12, a handful of journalists ventured to a last-minute, undisclosed location in Los Angeles to get a sneak peek at the new car for the upcoming NBC remake of Knight Rider. Originally the all-in-one intelligent crime-fighting vehicle known as KITT was a black Pontiac Trans-Am T-top, which was also unleashed upon the mainstream masses with a scaled down version of the car a short time later. Although the upgraded Trans-Am of the 1980s became so popular that it eventually turned into a greasy muscle car, with so many of them on the road it wasn't funny, the Ford Motor Company could very well see a huge boost in sales since the new KITT was unveiled to be none other than a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR.

According to the official NBC press release, the new Knight Rider revamp will feature three unique versions of the suped up KITT, "The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero -- a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with 540 horsepower; 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."

Keeping in line with the original series, the new KITT will be fully equipped to take on today's most seasoned street criminals through a variety of stealthy options and modifications, "... 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."

Starring Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, and Bruce Davison, Knight Rider and NBC are aiming to strike retro ratings gold with one of the most popular shows of the 1980s. As for who will be following in the footsteps of William Daniels to voice the new KITT, NBC has recruited none other than funny man Will Arnett to play the artificial personality of the car. As well, for all the original old school fans of the series, David Hasselhoff returns as tMichael Knight in a special guest appearance.

For a closer look at the recently unveiled KITT and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR, check out the latest images below: