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Thread: Ford Mustang GT500KR - Knight Rider (K.I.T.T)

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    Ford Mustang GT500KR - Knight Rider (K.I.T.T)

    2008 FORD SHELBY GT500KR LANDS STARRING ROLE ON KNIGHT RIDER

    By Michael Collins
    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."
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    There's only one car worthy of being the new K.I.T.T looks wise.....and that's the Lambo Reventon. The Mustang is so 1968.

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    Ford Mustang GT500KR - Knight Rider (K.I.T.T) #2
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    I am easily satisfied with the very best.

    "It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dino Scuderia View Post
    There's only one car worthy of being the new K.I.T.T looks wise.....and that's the Lambo Reventon. The Mustang is so 1968.
    yeah, it could offer you an espresso if you were in trouble

    They needed an "everyday car" not 1 of twenty...
    I am easily satisfied with the very best.

    "It is a very good looking car, If you have cataract" - JC about the Alpine A610

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gt1Street View Post
    yeah, it could offer you an espresso if you were in trouble

    They needed an "everyday car" not 1 of twenty...

    Anything is possible in Hollywood.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dino Scuderia View Post
    There's only one car worthy of being the new K.I.T.T looks wise.....and that's the Lambo Reventon. The Mustang is so 1968.
    I would rather see a Corvette ZR1 in that position... That would still give me some good old K.I.T.T. memories.
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    Yay another special edition Mustang! </fake enthusiasm>
    Reginald *IB4R* says:
    it was a beautiful 35 seconds.
    David says:
    that's what she said

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    I think the Knight Rider Mustang is a regular Mustang dressed up to look like a GT500. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

    Either way you look at it:

    1. It's a boring car.

    2. There's no reason to bring it back. It was bad enough as it is.

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    The only KITT is that Trans Am. Ford had to f*** it up with their pushy product placement.
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    if i remember correctly, i read somewhere that Knight rider will have 3 modes - normal, camouflage and attack. after all these years they couldnt come up with something cheesier than that.
    If you want to do something wrong, do it right

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    Quote Originally Posted by jorismo View Post
    I would rather see a Corvette ZR1 in that position... That would still give me some good old K.I.T.T. memories.
    i agree ford are too good with gettin their products in every movie. doesnt look special at all. Just ugly enough to scare bad guys away.

    is the 'hoff doin the movie??

  12. #12
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    The movie already aired, and yes haslehoff was in it, very minor roll thankfully.
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