Ford Mustang is Knight Rider’s new K.I.T.T

K.I.T.T is making a welcome return as the star of Knight Rider – but this time he’s a Mustang.

Fans of the hit 1980s show have been rocked by the new news K.I.T.T is no longer a Pontiac Trans Am.

Ford claims to have won the deal to supply Knight Rider with KITT after fierce competition from GM and Chrysler. The result is this Shelby Mustang GT500KR based car.

In the new Knight Rider, K.I.T.T will be capable of changing colour and can hack into almost any electronic system.

When danger is close K.I.T.T can transform into ‘Attack’ mode with a new rear bumper, two-tiered rear spoiler, side scoops and a bulging hood morphing into place thanks to the wonder of modern computer generated special effects.

The Shelby Mustang GT500KR K.I.T.T is based on has 540bhp from its supercharged 5.4-litre V8 – making it one of the fastest Mustangs ever built.

Hollywood car builder Galpin Auto Sports was commissioned to build the new K.I.T.T from the Shelby Mustang – but were given just a week to complete it.

Six GAS designers were given only a week to complete the first KITT and worked non-stop on its transformation.

‘Attack’ KITT was designed by Harold Belker who is responsible for special vehicles in Batman and Robin, Spider-Man, Minority Report and Superman.

The human star of the new show is played by American actor Justin Bruening (from US TV show All My Children) and it is rumoured he will play the part of Michael Knights’ son.

In the original show the role of Michael Knight gave David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff his first taste of global fame.

NBC will be showing the new Knight Rider from February in the US.