[Source: Youtube via. Chromjuwelen]

Photography: Ray Wert and Wes Siler

[Source:knightrideronline/Ford/jalopnik]

BURBANK, Calif. – February 4, 2008 – NBC and the Ford Motor Company will partner to get viewers rolling with the “Ford ‘Knight Rider’ Giveaway Sweepstakes,” during the action adventure “Knight Rider” movie of the week on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) when viewers will have the chance to win one of four new boldly designed and high-tech Ford automobiles.

The grand-prize winner will receive a 2008 Ford Shelby GT 500 KR with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $79,995. The first of this highly sought after performance car recently sold at a charity auction for $550,000. In addition, one first-prize recipient will get the keys to a Ford Edge Limited AWD (MSRP $32,070); a second-prize winner will drive away with a Ford Fusion V6 SEL AWD (MSRP $24,385), and a third-prize recipient will receive a Ford Focus SES Sedan (MSRP $16,375). The total (MSRP) estimated value for all four vehicles is approximately $152,825.

The announcement was made today by John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Universal Television Group and Robert Parker, Ford Car Group Marketing Manager.

“NBC’s partnership with Ford is a natural fit with ‘Knight Rider,’ since they have provided the KITT cars we are using for this dynamic new version of the classic series,” said John Miller. “Our audience will not only be thrilled by the adrenaline action on screen, but they will have the exciting chance to actively participate in driving away in their own new high-tech Ford vehicle.”

“‘Knight Rider’ is one of the best examples of a car playing a lead role on television and the Ford Shelby GT 500 KR fits the part perfectly,” said Parker. “The partnership with NBC has allowed us to push the creative envelope on screen and now to audience members who have the chance to win their very own Ford.”

The “Ford ‘Knight Rider’ Giveaway Sweepstakes” begins at 8 p.m. (ET) on February 17 during an episode of “American Gladiators” (7-9 p.m. ET), continues with the movie’s broadcast (9-11 p.m. ET) and concludes the next day, Monday, February 18. At four different, pre-determined intervals during the “Knight Rider” broadcast – approximately every 30 minutes – viewers will be invited to participate in the sweepstakes by answering a question pertaining to the movie by going online. Contestants will be directed to the website www.nbc.com/knightrider. A correct answer is not required for an entrant to make an entry into the sweepstakes. There is a limit of four entries per person for the entire sweepstakes period.

Potential winners will be randomly selected from among all eligible entries received in a drawing to be held on or about March 3, 2008. The potential winners will be notified by phone within two weeks of the drawing date (on or about March 17). The sweepstakes is limited to viewers in the 48 contiguous states (thereby excluding Alaska and Hawaii).

“Knight Rider” — NBC’s iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success — comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel movie event. Earlier, NBC unveiled the new customized KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) Ford Mustang to be featured in the series.

NBC’s partnership with Ford Motor Company provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie. The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero — a Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 KR 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 GT 500 KR 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 GT 500 KR version of the Hero vehicle.

As the original story resumes in this sequel, KITT is absolutely the coolest car ever created: 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.

“Knight Rider” stars Justin Bruening (”Cold Case,” “All My Children”), Deanna Russo (”NCIS,” “The Young and the Restless”), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (”Veronica Mars,” “Grindhouse”) and Bruce Davison (”Breach,” “Close to Home”). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) — who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series — returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance.

David Bartis (”Heist,” “The O.C.”) and Doug Liman (”Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “The Bourne Identity”) serve as executive producers. David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill (”Dexter,” “The Tudors”), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

[Source: nbc]

Accommodations
• Seating: 2+2
• Drivers Seat Travel: Fixed
• Passenger: Seat Travel 9.5”

Instrumentation
• Speedometer: Infinite
• Tachometer: Infinite
• Boost Pressure: Digital LED
• Oil Pressure: Digital LED
• Fuel Pressure: Digital LED
• Coolant Temp: Digital LED
• Fuel Level: Digital LED
• Flex-Fuel Indicators: Digital LED

Engine
• Type: Aluminum Block/Titanium Heads 5.4lV8 Internal Combustion with Whipple Supercharger and Knight Industries Liquid Air Cycle Auxiliary: Turbine engine
• Layout: Longitudinal
• Valvetrain: Duel Overhead Cam, 4 valve/cyl
• IC Displacamnet: 330 cu in
• Turbine Displacement: 200 cu in
• Compression: variable
• Horsepower (SAE): Infinite
• torque: infinite
• Limiter: None
• fuel injection: sequential port
• Recommended Fuel Flex Fuel – including conventional Petrol, Jet A, Pure Kerosene, Liquid Hydrogen, electric and solar fuel
Drive Train
• Transmission Continuously variable transmission with infinite power band
• Final Drive Ratio 2:1

Chassis and Body
• Layout Front engine with on demand all-wheel drive
• Body/Frame Titanium/Aluminum

Price as tested
• $45,567,999

Acceleration
• 0-60/1.77 seconds
• 1/4 mile 3.87 seconds

Braking
• 300mph/12ft

Fuel Economy
• Not testable

Handeling
• Ford Racing Handling Pack (lowering springs, dampers, sway bars & bushings) Noise
• Exterior Silent Capabilities
• Interior Silent Capabilities

Advanced Features (Operationally controlled by the Knight Industries 2000 microprocessor Version 2.3)

1. Auto Cruise
2. Auto Pursuit
3. Auto Collision Avoidance (with over-ride option)
4. Voice interaction (aka KITT)
5. Emergency Eject
6. Audio/video in-dash entertainment/surveillance capabilities
7. Radar
8. Sonar
9. X-ray
10. Automatic Pilot
11. Voice analyzer
12. Infrared Tracking Scope (Range: 20 miles)
13. Pyroclastic Lamination (Maintains cool body temperature in extreme heat)
14. Blood Analyzer
15. Microwave Jammer
16. Interior Oxygenator
17. Rocket Boosters
18. Smokescreen
19. Olfactory Detector
20. Spectrograph
21. Electromagnetic Field Generator
22. Microwave Ignition Sensor (Activates other engines)
23. Aquatic Synthesizer
24. Electronic Field Disrupter
25. Ultra magnesium Charges
26. Ultra phonic Chemical Analyzer
27. Graphic Translator (Sketches likenesses from verbal input)
28. Anamorphic Equalizer
29. DNA analysis equipment
30. Mass spectrometer capability
31. Targeted electro magnetic pulse (to disrupt any electronic equipment)
32. Access to military (dscs – defense satellite communication system) and commercial satellite systems – provides real-time gps/photographic info
33. Heated seats
34. 3D – heads up holographic display system
35. Lethal and non-lethal laser weapons system
36. Advanced holographic projection capability
37. Keyless entry and ignition
38. Personal safety system
39. Nano technology – provides cloaking abilities, (color changes and exterior vehicle morphing)
40. 360 degree real time video imagery surveillance – panoramic vision system
41. Laser guided missal defense system
42. Internally launched reconnaissance drone (mini-KITT)
43. 24 hour roadside assistance provided via Knight Industries C-130 (includes wet bar)
44. 1000 WATT – quadraphonic stereo system, 15″ lead cone woofers
45. Full medical diagnostic capability built into the seating system
46. Biometric analysis

Test Conditions
Temp: 80 F
Humidity: 25%
Wind Calm:
Barometric Pressure: 29.92
Location: New Mexico

Update: Ein Video von der NBC Präsentation wurde jetzt ins Netz gestellt, zu sehen gibt es dieses bei Jalopnik!

PRESS RELEASE:

UPDATED ‘KNIGHT RIDER’ REVS UP TO RETURN TO NBC FOR SPECIAL TWO-HOUR MOVIE EVENT ON FEBRUARY 17 AS NEW KITT CAR IS REVEALED

BURBANK, Calif. – December 12, 2007 – As “Knight Rider” — NBC’s iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie event on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) — NBC unveiled the new customized KITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held at NBC’s Burbank Studios today.

The movie stars Justin Bruening (“Cold Case,” “All My Children”), Deanna Russo (“NCIS,” “The Young and the Restless”), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (“Veronica Mars,” “Grindhouse”) and Bruce Davison (“Breach,” “Close to Home”). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) — who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series — returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC’s “30 Rock,” “Blades of Glory”) will provide the voice of KITT.

Dave Bartis (“Heist,” “The O.C.”) and Doug Liman (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “The Bourne Identity”) serve as executive producers.
NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie.

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.

As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: 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.

Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles’ (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he’s a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago — and that her father is in serious danger.

Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn’t seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who’s behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.

David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill (“Dexter,” “The Tudors”), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

[Source: NBC/tvsquad]