K.I.T.T (Knight Rider)

KITT

**KITT** is an AI-programmed car and one of the main protagonists of Knight Rider. He's also a character in Star Cat.

## Physical Appearance

KITT takes the form of a black 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 KR with a red scanner located on the front of his hood. However, he can take multiple forms:

* Attack Mode (Customized 2008 Ford Mustang GT-500 KR)
* 2009 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck
* Underwater Submersible
* Ford E-150 Van
* Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
* 2008 Ford Mustang Warrior in Pink Convertible
* 2009 Ford Flex
* 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1

## Features

KITT started out as Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which was also known as his 2000 model. Over the years, he had gained many new features and was eventually refitted into his current Ford Mustang form, also known as his 3000 model.

### 2000 Features

* **Molecular Bonded Shell** - K.I.T.T. is armored with "**Tri-Helical Plasteel 1000 MBS**", or **Molecular Bonded Shell** plating which protects him from almost all forms of conventional firearms and explosive devices. This is an impregnable outer shell of the vehicle with a nearly indestructible polymer. They can only be harmed by heavy artillery and rockets, and even then the blast usually leaves most of the car's shell intact and only damages internal components. The shell protects every part of the car including the tires. As a result, K.I.T.T. could act as a shield for explosives by driving over bombs and suppressing the blast. A laser is also capable of damaging the alloy, however the shell can only withstand a maximum of 2 shots before being neutralized. The shell also protects against fire and electricity; it is vulnerable to some potent acids and at least one formula was made to completely neutralize the shell. Long exposure to seawater can weaken the shell.
* **Pyroclastic Lamination** - K.I.T.T. is protected by thermal-resistant coating that can withstand sustained temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. First used in Episode 32, "Ring of Fire".
* **Power System** - K.I.T.T. is powered by the Knight Industries turbojet with modified afterburners and a computer-controlled 8-speed turbodrive transmission. Specifications: 0–60 mph in 2 seconds, standing to quarter mile 4.4 seconds. Electromagnetic hyper-vacuum disc brakes: 12 foot braking distance 60–0 mph.
* **Voice Synthesizer** - K.I.T.T.'s Voice synthesizer allows K.I.T.T. as well as other similar vehichles logic modules to speak and communicate. Other sounds, such as a police raid to fool criminals or a wild animal's growl, could also be simulated. The Voice Synthesizer "speaks" through the Voice Modulator in the interior of the vehicle. K.I.T.T.'s primary spoken language was English, however by accessing his language module, he could speak fluently in Spanish and French. The module could also be adjusted to give K.I.T.T. different accents; for example, in Episode 413: Out of the Woods, K.I.T.T. uses a "New York City" accent and calls Michael, "Micky".
* **Electronic Jamming System** - K.I.T.T. has an **Electronic Jamming System** which consists of three main components: the Electromagnetic Field Generator, Electronic Field Disrupter and the Microwave Ignition Sensor. The system can take control of electronic machines, allowing such diverse activites as cheating at slot machines, breaking electronic locks, scrambling security cameras, and withdrawing money from ATMs. The system was used most frequently to disable the engine and activate the brakes on a fleeing vehicle. In some episodes, K.I.T.T. used the system to magnetize and manipulate non-electronic objects such as a mechanical combination lock, and to create "poltergeist" activity, moving random objects to frighten people.
* **Anamorphic Equalizer** - The equalizer device is a fiber-optic array of electronic "eyes". The scanner could see in all visual wavelengths as well as x-ray and infrared. When K.I.T.T.'s surveillance mode was active the bar would light up and make an ominous swooping sound as it panned left and right. Occasionally the bar pulsed in different patterns and swept either rapidly or very slowly. It is possible to disable K.I.T.T.'s electronics by penetrating the equalizer with a laser making this one of his few vulnerabilities.
* **Etymotic Equalizer** - This system allowed K.I.T.T. to hear sounds. An array of audio sensors were threaded throughout his interior and exterior.
* **Olfactory Sensor** - K.I.T.T. could "smell" via an atmospheric sampling device mounted in his front bumper.
* **Microscanners** - Microscanners are tiny audio and visual sensors embedded into the grooves of K.I.T.T.'s body. They allow for visual tracking and display of anything around the car.
* **Cruise Modes** - These are K.I.T.T.'s three drive modes:
	+ **Normal Cruise** - On "Normal", Michael had control of the car. In an emergency, K.I.T.T. could still take over and activate Auto Cruise mode. In order to prevent this, one has to use the Manual Override. In the show's fourth season, the word "Cruise" was dropped and indicated simply by the word "Normal".
	+ **Auto Cruise** - In "Auto", K.I.T.T. could drive himself utilizing an advanced Auto Collision Avoidance System.
	+ **Pursuit** - "Pursuit" is used during high-speed driving and is a combination of manual and computer assisted operation. K.I.T.T. could respond to road conditions faster than Michael's reflexes could; however, Michael was technically in control of the vehicle and K.I.T.T. helped guide certain maneuvers.
* **Computer Override** - K.I.T.T. has a hidden switch and setting dial under the dash that either completely shuts down his AI module or deactivates certain systems should the need arise. First used in Episode 17, "Chariot of Gold".
* **Manual Override** - K.I.T.T. has a function which can be activated in order to completely lock the AI from all the vehicle controls. Unlike the Computer Override, Manual Override simply keeps K.I.T.T. from activating Auto Cruise or preventing anyone inside the car from doing something that would probably hurt them. K.I.T.T.'s AI is still able to protest such actions vocally. First used in Episode 8, "Trust Doesn't Rust".
* **Police Lights**, **Sirens** - K.I.T.T.'s headlights can flash red and blue as police lights and he has a siren. First used in Episode 38, "Race for Life".
* **Silent Mode** - K.I.T.T. could run silently. The feature dampened his engine noise and allow him to sneak around. First used in Episode 37, "White-Line Warriors".
* **Grappling Hook**, **Winch** - K.I.T.T. has a hidden winch and grappling hook system, one mounted under his front bumper and another in a compartment behind his taillights. Most often the hook is connected by a strong cable, but a metal arm has also been seen. The grappling hook is first used in Episode 6, "Not a Drop to Drink"; the winch is first used in Episode 13, "Forget Me Not".
* **Parachute** - K.I.T.T. is equipped with a parachute. First used in Episode 23, "Goliath Returns (Pt. 1)".
* **Oil Slick**, **Smoke Release** - K.I.T.T. could spray an oil slick and a plume of smoke from under his rear bumper. First used in Episode 1, "Knight of the Phoenix".
* **Flame Thrower** - K.I.T.T. has flamethrowers mounted under his bumpers. First used in Episode 2, "Deadly Maneuvers".
* **Tear Gas** - K.I.T.T. can dispense a cloud of tear gas along with his smokescreen. First used in Episode 13, "Hearts of Stone".
* **Rocket Fire** - K.I.T.T. can launch magnesium flares which can also be used to divert heat-seeking missiles fired at him. First used in Episode 26, "Merchants of Death".
* **High Traction Drop-Downs** - When activated, the HTDD system hydraulically raises K.I.T.T.'s chassis for better traction when driving off-road. First used in Episode 39, "Speed Demons".
* **Traction Spikes** - When activated K.I.T.T.'s tires would have spikes coming out in order for K.I.T.T. to drive up steep off-road hills. First used in Episode 86, "Hills of Fire".
* **Telephone Comlink** - Michael could contact home base and communicate with Devon and others using K.I.T.T.'s video display.
* **Surveillance Mode** - Surveillance Mode did several things:
	+ K.I.T.T. could detect people and vehicles and track their movements and discern their proximity.
	+ K.I.T.T. could gather structural schematics of buildings, vehicles or other devices and help Michael avoid potential danger when he was snooping around.
	+ K.I.T.T. could also monitor radio transmissions and telephone communications within a location and trace those calls.
	+ K.I.T.T. could tap into computer systems to monitor or upload and download information as long as he could break the access codes.
* **Infrared Tracking Scope** - K.I.T.T. could monitor the position of specific vehicles in the area within 10 miles. For instance, if Michael wanted to know the location of every police vehicle within 5 miles, K.I.T.T. could display a schematic on his monitors of all police vehicles relative to his position.
* **Bomb Sniffer** - K.I.T.T. is equipped with a bomb sniffer module that can detect explosives within a few yards of the vehicle. First used in Episode 25, "Brother's Keeper".
* **Medical Scanner** - K.I.T.T. has a medical scanner that includes an electrocardiograph (ECG). The medical scanner can monitor the vital signs of individuals and display them on his monitors. It could indicate such conditions as if they were injured, poisoned, undergoing stress or other emotional behavior. K.I.T.T. could even monitor Michael's physical activity through sensors inside the driver seat. First used in Episode 1, "Knight of the Phoenix (Pt. 2)".
* **Deflatable Tires** - K.I.T.T. could deflate and reinflate his tires. First used in Episode 4, "Slammin' Sammy's Stunt Show Spectacular".
* **Fuel Processor** - K.I.T.T. was powered by a turbine engine primarily fueled by hydrogen gas. However, his complex fuel processor allows him to run on any combustible liquid, even regular gasoline. K.I.T.T.'s actual fuel requirements and efficiency ratings were classified, however in one episode, K.I.T.T. mentioned his fuel economy was at least 100 miles per gallon. However, when operating on fuels other than liquid hydrogen K.I.T.T.'s fuel efficiency and power output may be lowered.
* **Self-Tinting Windows** - K.I.T.T.'s windows could darken to opacity for various situations. First used in Episode 14, "Give Me Liberty... or Give Me Death".
* **Voice Stress Analyzer** - K.I.T.T. can process spoken voices and determine if someone may be lying. First used in Episode 26, "Merchants of Death".
* **Auto Doors**, **Sunroof**, **Trunk Lid** - K.I.T.T. could automatically open and close his doors and T-tops. He could also lock his doors to prevent unauthorized entry into his driver compartment. He could also open his hood automatically.
* **Lic Plates** - K.I.T.T. can rotate his "KNIGHT" license plate to reveal a fictitious one reading "KNI 667". Michael used this to evade police when an APB was placed on him. First used in Episode 25, "Brother's Keeper".
* **Seat Ejection System** - K.I.T.T. had two front ejection seats, mostly used when Michael needed a boost to fire escapes or building roof tops. First used in Episode 1, "Knight of the Phoenix (Pt. 1)".
* **Passive Laser Restraint System** - Added to K.I.T.T. in later seasons, the restraint system helped protect Michael and any passengers from the shock of sudden impacts and hard stopping, especially after Super Pursuit Mode. It is speculated that this is a primitive form of an inertial damping device. First used in Episode 47, "Knight of the Drones".
* **Video Display Monitors** - K.I.T.T. had two Cathode ray tube video display monitors on his dash for various readouts. They are controlled by two systems, the Graphic Translator (which sketches likenesses from verbal input) and the Anamorphic Equalizer (which gathered visual information from K.I.T.T.'s front scan bar) and microscanners. K.I.T.T. only had one when his dash was redesigned for the show's third season.
* **Computer Printer** - K.I.T.T. could print hard copies of data on a dashboard-mounted printer. First used in Episode 15, "The Topaz Connection".
* **Chemical Analyzer** - K.I.T.T. has a retractable tray with anelectron scanner that could analyze the chemical properties of various materials. It could even scan fingerprints and read ballistic information off bullets and compare these with a police database. Aside from the scanning tray, the system could also analyze chemical information gathered from K.I.T.T.'s exterior sensors. First used in Episode 17, "Chariot of Gold".
* **CO2** - K.I.T.T. could put out small fires from a CO2 sprayer in his bumpers.
* **Oxygen Vent** - K.I.T.T. could release oxygen into his driver compartment and provide air to passengers if he was ever submerged in water or buried in earth. This is also used to overcome the effects of certain drugs. First used in Episode 4, "Slammin' Sammy's Stunt Show Spectacular".
* **Ski Mode** - The Ski Mode setting allowed K.I.T.T. to "ski" (driving up on two wheels). First used in Episode 1, "Knight of the Phoenix".
* **Third Stage Aquatic Synthesizer** - With this system, K.I.T.T. can hydroplane, effectively "driving" on water, using his wheels and turbo system for propulsion. First used in Episode 28, "Return to Cadiz".
* **Sub Zero** - K.I.T.T. could release cryogenic gases and "flash freeze" the driver compartment. This was used once when a baby tiger managed to get inside to gnaw on his steering wheel and K.I.T.T. wanted him out. First used in Episode 66, "Knight in Retreat".
* **Sleep Gas** - K.I.T.T. could spray a gas into the driver compartment that could render an unwanted occupant unconscious.
* **Air Vac** - K.I.T.T. could expel all breathable air from the driver compartment, however, only K.A.R.R. ever threatened to use it to harm someone. K.I.T.T. used this to rid the compartment of smoke after bombs were detonated in his trunk.
* **Trajectory Guidance System** - Allowed K.I.T.T. to calculate the perfect trajectory so that the car could Turbo Boost out in a stationary position or if it was trapped under something.
* **Super Pursuit Mode** - K.I.T.T.'s SPM was added at the start of the fourth season. It was the result of a redesign of the car to integrate new concepts consisting of improved rocket boosters, retractable spoilers for aerodynamic stability and movable air inlets for increased cooling. Super Pursuit Mode provided a 40% boost in speed beyond the car's original top speed of 300 MPH. First used in Episode 70, "Knight of the Juggernaut".
* **Emergency Braking System** - The EBS slowed K.I.T.T. down from Super Pursuit speeds. It consisted of a forward breaking booster and air panels that popped out to create air friction. First used in Episode 70, "Knight of the Juggernaut".
* **Convertible Roof** - Added in the fourth season, by pressing the "C" button on K.I.T.T.'s dash Michael could bring the top down and K.I.T.T. became a convertible. First used in Episode #70, "Knight of the Juggernaut".

### 3000 Features

* **Backup Mainframe Processor**: If KITT detects a fault or damage with his microprocessor, he carries a backup which can be mounted in the field automatically.
* **Windshield Projection**: Used in place of the center console screen in the Pilot. Basically, the entire front windshield is configured to display extra information and well as display the video communication link with the SSC.
* **Bio Matrix Scanner**: Used to detect the health status of persons in the the immediate area.
* **Nanotech Skin Repair**: KITT has tiny nano-machines that upon detection of any damage will instantly repair said area. When KITT is deactivated, the nano system is also disabled, making him susceptible to physical damage.
* **Turbo Boost**: (Used in conjunction with attack mode): A power injector system that allows for large, but brief amounts of power to allow KITT to jump over obstacles. This ability along with directional exhaust outlets allows KITT to jump from a standstill or at high speed and can also do a ski type of maneuver (knight to king's pawn)that lifts the side of the car.
* **Hood Surface Screen**: Similar to projection windshield. Allows KITT to display data on exterior hood for outside briefings or with other parties.
* **Offensive Missiles**: (Used in conjunction with attack mode): 2 tube launched missiles that are retracted from either door.
* **Gatling Guns** (Again, used in conjunction with attack mode): 2 gatling-style guns that are retracted from the hood. Seen in season 1 episode 15, "Fly By Knight". In episode 16, "Knight and the City", KITT deploys a single machine gun while in regular mode. In this episode, KITT also indicates that he would run out of ammunition in 7 seconds, and that in that timespan, he would expend 8,000 rounds, which means that KITT's gatling guns have an approximate rate of fire of 1,143 rounds per second.
* **Laser**: As the name suggests, a device that creates a high-powered ultra-frequency modulated light beam capable of destroying locks and other items. Projected from scanner bar. The laser is capable of burning through steel plating.
* **EMP Weapon**: An electromagnetic pulse projector to allow disabling of any electronic circuit or device within the given area. First seen in "Knight of the Zodiac".
* **Anti Missile Flares**: Deployed from rear bumper. Disk-like objects that when dispensed produce an intense heat source to deter heat-seeking projectiles.
* **Anti Traction Compound Dispenser**: (Known as Black Ice): An exterior dispenser that can eject a liquid, making the targeted surface tractionless.
* **Interior Tear Gas Dispenser**: Used for anti-theft and defensive purposes. KITT can fill the car's cabin with tear gas to incapacitate a would-be thief as seen in Episode 7, "I Wanna Rock & Roll All Knight".
* **3D Object Printer**: A device that allows for the creation of small 3D objects (such as keys) based on available electronic data.
* **Printer**: Standard printer used for documents and incoming faxes. Located in the passenger side dash.
* **Fingerprint Overlay Printer**: A device accessible via the glove box that allows KITT to scan fingerprints from an inserted object and overlay then onto another person's hand.
* **Weapons Cache**: Small arms cache accessible via the glove box area that usually contains 2 9MM handguns with extra clips for occupant's protection outside KITT.
* **First Aid**: Accessible via glove box. Allows for field mending of physical wounds such as lost appendages.

## Gallery

KITT in Attack ModeKITT in his Ford F-150 formKITT in Submarine ModeKITT in his Ford E-150 Van formOfficer KITTKITT in his Pink Ford Warrior formKITT in his Ford Flex formKITT in his '69 Mustang form