A Striped KITT

The new Knight Rider will have stripes on it basically since it’s going to be a Ford Mustang specifically a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that will portray the role of Knight Industries Three Thousand.

This will surely disappoint purists that are hoping to see a rebuilt Trans Am or another GM-made car such as the new Camaro or a Z06 Corvette. And also earlier pictures of the new KITT circulated on the web shows a Koenigsegg CCX which quite fits the role.

For the show, three versions of the car will be used the everyday KITT Hero, KITT Attack, and the driverless KITT Remote. The nanotechnology allows the KITT to shape shift and change color. The KITT’s super computer can hack into any computer and electrical system.

The voice of KITT will also be change instead of using the voice of William Daniels comic actor Will Arnett will become the new voice of KITT. However some feels that Arnett is somewhat miscast in the role.

Anyway that is no longer our concern (LOL). David Hasselhoff will remain as Michael Knight only older this time. He will be the personal trainer of All My Children star Justin Bruening who will play as an ex-Army Ranger Mike Tracer who will help in tracking down the original KITT creator, Charles. The other characters on the show include Deanna Russo as Sarah Graiman, Bruce Davison as Charles, and Sydney Tamiia Poitier as an FBI agent.

The Knight Rider to be shown at the NBC network on February 17 at 9pm ET will be a two-hour movie that will serve as a sneak peek of the coming new Knight Rider series and if the show is successful new episodes of the Knight Rider may be ready by the next fall season.

Aston Martin DBS to Star in New James Bond Movie

The British manufacturer of luxury performance cars and favorite car brand of James Bond, Aston Martin has recently announced that the DBS which is the brand’s new flagship model will once again co-star with Daniel Craig in another James Bond movie to be produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for EON Productions and directed by March Forster.

The DBS has made its first appearance in Casino Royale where it was able to smash its way into the Guinness World Record books for “The Most Cannon Rolls in a Car”. The record-breaking stunt was accomplished by stuntman Adam Kirley and has become as one of the most spectacular in movie history when the DBS rolled seven times.

Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer said, “Aston Martin is proud of our long association with James Bond. The DBS has its own unique character which equals that of James Bond. It is explosive power in a black tie. It is the perfect car for James Bond as it delivers the complete driving experience and bridges the gap between our road and track cars – the DB9 and DBR9. It is equally at home on a twisting mountain circuit as on the open road and we are all very excited at the prospect of seeing it on the big screen again.”

The working title of the new James Bond movie is Bond 22 and is scheduled for international theatrical release in November 2008.

2007 Shelby Mustang GT500 Cast in I Am Legend Movie Starring Will Smith

A year after the all-new version Ford Mondeo has grace the James Bond film Casino Royale another Ford vehicle will get its share of the limelight in a holiday blockbuster entitled I Am Legend starring Will Smith.

The movie will cast the 2007 Shelby Mustang GT500 in red with signature white stripes. Brian Daly of Ford Global Brand Entertainment (FGBE) which places Ford vehicles in movies, TV, and other media said, "There is no doubt that the Shelby Mustang GT500 is the costar of the first part of this story. Smith plays the sole survivor of an apocalypse who races around the deserted, gray, empty streets in this fantastic bright red Mustang. The sequences are incredible. The producers knew they wanted an American-made vehicle and the Shelby Mustang was perfect casting. But I also knew Chrysler and GM were making pitches. I kept imagining the folks at Camaro piecing together all kinds of prototypes to get those scenes."

It was in the spring of 2006 when Daly has started talking with Warner Bros. on the possible casting of Ford vehicles on the movie and thanks to his long working relationship with several studio executives he was given the chance to take a peak at the script.

I Am Legend is a movie adapted on the 1954 Richard Matheson science fiction novel that features a red Ford vehicle. The First adaptation of this novel is the movie The Omega Man which was released in the year 1971 and has featured Charlton Heston behind the wheel of a bright red 1970 Ford LTD.

For the I Am Legend, Smith will not only be seen driving a Ford convertible but will also be sharing scenes with a Ford Expedition and a Ford Escape Hybrid.

For this year, Ford vehicles have starred in some of the most exciting movies ever released including The Kingdom that featured a Range Rover and starred Jamie Foxx; Dan in Real Life wherein Ford starred with Volvo and Steve Carell; Rush Hour 3 that showcase a Jaguar XK and starred Jackie Chan; and Nancy Drew that featured a Ford Escape and Land Rover LR3 and starred Emma Roberts.

And next year, 2008, it’s still going to be a busy year for Ford vehicles on the screen as it joins the casts of the movie Nights in Rodante starring Richard Gere driving behind a 2008 Jaguar XK. Hopefully there would still be some more announcement after.

Top 40 Vintage movies featuring the greatest movie cars

Can’t get enough of movie cars? And top tens gets you craving for more? Let me quench your thirst. Hotrod.com listed the top 40 greatest car movies of all time. Check them out and reminisce how each motion picture satisfied your gearhead appetite.

1> American Graffiti (1973)

Director: George Lucas
Stars: '32 Ford five-window, '55 Chevy, '58 Chevy
People: Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Charles Martin Smith,Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Candy Clark, and PaulLeMat

2> Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

Director: Monte Hellman
Stars: '55 Chevy, '70 GTO
People: James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, Warren Oates

3> Vanishing Point (1971)

Director: Richard C. Sarafian
Star: '70 Challenger R/T
People: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger

4> Bullitt (1968)

Director: Peter Yates
Stars: '68 Mustang GT 390, '68 Charger
People: Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset

5> The Gumball Rally (1976)

Director: Charles Bail
Stars: '65 Shelby Cobra 427, '70 Camaro, '71 Ferrari DaytonaSpyder
People: Michael Sarrazin, Raul Julia, Gary Busey

6> Thunder Road (1958)

Director: Arthur Ripley
Stars: '50 Ford, '57 Chevy, '57 Ford
People: Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry

7> Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974)

Director: John Hough
Stars: '66 Impala, '69 Charger
People: Peter Fonda, Adam Roarke, Susan George, Vic Morrow

8> Smokey and The Bandit (1977)

Director: Hal Needham
Stars: '77 Trans Am
People: Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason

9> The Blues Brothers (1980)
Director: John Landis
Star: '74 Monaco Police Package
People: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd

10> Hollywood Knights (1980)

Director: Floyd Mutrux
Stars: '57 Chevy, '66 Cobra 427, and numerous street rods
People: Robert Wuhl, Tony Danza, Michelle Pfeiffer

11> Mad Max (1979)

Director: George Miller
Stars: '73 Ford Falcon Coupe
People: Mel Gibson

12> The Road Warrior (1981)

Director: George Miller
Star: '73 Ford Falcon Coupe
People: Mel Gibson

13> Le Mans (1971)

Director: Lee H. Katzin
Stars: Porsche 917, Ferrari 512S
People: Steve McQueen

14> Gone In 60 Seconds (1974)

Director: H.B. Halicki
Star: '73 Ford Mustang Mach 1
People: H.B. Halicki

15> Corvette Summer (1978)

Director: Matthew Robbins
Star: '73 Ford Falcon Coupe
People: Mark Hamill, Annie Potts

16> More American Graffiti (1979)

Director: Bill L. Norton
Stars: '32 Ford, fleets of vintage drag machines
People: Ron Howard, Paul LeMat

17> Funny Car Summer (1974)

Director: Ron Phillips
Star: Jim Dunn's rear-engine '73 'Cuda Funny Car
People: Jim Dunn and family

18> Cannonball (1976)

Director: Paul Bartel
Stars: '69 Mustang, '70 Trans Am, '71 Pantera, '68 Charger
People: David Carradine, Veronica Hamel

19> White Lightning (1973)

Director: Joseph Sargent
Star: '71 Ford LTD
People: Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty

20> Death Race 2000 (1975)

Director: Paul Bartel
Stars: Scads of kit cars
People: David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone

21> Eat My Dust! (1976)

Director: Charles B. Griffith
Star: '68 Camaro
People: Ron Howard, Christopher Norris

22> The Lively Set (1964)

Director: Jack Arnold
Stars: Chrysler Turbine, Top Fuelers, streamliners
People: James Darren, Pamela Tiffin, Doug McClure

23> The French Connection (1971)

Director: William Friedkin
Star: '71 Pontiac LeMans
People: Gene Hackman, Roy Schieder

24> To Live And Die In L.A. (1985)

Director: William Friedkin
Star: Early '80s Impala sedan
People: William L. Petersen, Willem Dafoe

25> Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Director: George Sidney
Stars: Cobras, Corvettes, and more
People: Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret

26> Ronin (1998)

Director: John Frankenheimer
Stars: BMW M5, Mercedes 6.9, Audi S8
People: Robert DeNiro, Jean Reno

27> Against All Odds (1984)

Director: Taylor Hackford
Stars: Porsche 911, Ferrari 308 GTSi
People: Jeff Bridges, James Woods, Rachel Ward

28> Christine (1983)

Director: John Carpenter
Stars: '58 Fury, '68 Charger, '67 Camaro
People: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell

29> Cobra (1986)

Director: George P. Cosmatos
Star: '50 Mercury
People: Sylvester Stallone, Brigitte Neilsen

30> Hot Rod (1950)
Director: Lewis D. Collins
Star: '32 Ford
People: Jimmy Lydon, Gil Stratton

31> Hot Rod Girl (1956)

Director: Leslie H. Martinson
Stars: Various rods, '56 Thunderbird
People: Lori Nelson, Frank Gorshin, Chuck Connors

32> The Cannonball Run (1981)

Director: Hal Needham
Stars: Dodge van, Ferrari 308 GTS, Lamborghini Countach
People: Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Dom Deluise

33> The Driver (1978)

Director: Walter Hill
Stars: Chevy pickup, '76 Trans Am
People: Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani

34> Used Cars (1980)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: '57 Chevy, junk
People: Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Deborah Harmon

35> Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000)

Director: Dominic Sena
Star: '67 Mustang
People: Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie

36> Hot Rods To Hell (1967)

Director: John Brahm/James Curtis Havens
Stars: '58 Corvette, '56 Chevy, '61 Belvedere
People: Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain

37> Tucker: The Man And His Dream (1985)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Star: Tucker Torpedo
People: Jeff Bridges, Joan Allen, Martin Landau

38> Goldfinger (1964)

Director: Guy Hamilton
Star: Aston Martin DB5
People: Sean Connery

39> The Italian Job (1969)

Director: Peter Collinson
Stars: Mini Coopers, Lamborghini Miura
People: Michael Cain, Noel Coward, Benny Hill

40> The Fast And The Furious (2001)
Director: Rob Cohen
Stars: '70 Charger, '01 Ford Lightning, and a whole bunch ofreally hideous, overly done import cars with huge graphics.
People: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel

Looking back, what was the first ever Batmobile?

In May of 1939, the #27 of Detective Comics introduced the superhero of Gotham City, Batman. For two years, Batman’s mode of transportation when catching the bad guys is not known, however, to make Batman’s job easier, the Batmobile came. The super car debuted in Batman #5 and became the comic cover of the Batman #20. That was in sketch.

In 1955, the real life Batmobile was made by Ford. During that time, Ford’s Lincoln division was able to create the futuristic concept car named Lincoln Futura. The Lincoln Futura was Italian handmade in Turin with a price tag of $250,000. That was the time when such amount seems like the price of the Bugatti Veyron. Like most of Concept cars, the Lincoln Futura was not put in production. Some time in the 1960’s George Barris of Barris Kustom City with his tactics bought the car from Ford Motor Co. for only $1.

To further see how Batman becomes Gotham’s super guy, the comic series was made a TV show. Of course, as Batman chases criminals he must be in his Batmobile. The problem was, is there a Bat-like car to fit our superhero?

To solve this problem, the producers of the “Batman” TV show asked the help of George Barris. Barris will be the one to build the Batmobile for the upcoming Batman show. Another problem was, the car is due by three weeks. With his new bought Futura having bat-like features his problem was cracked. For George Barris, there is no other car to be the Batmobile but his Lincoln Futura.



"Batman has two primary modes of transportation: swinging from gothic clock towers on his Batline, and cruising around Gotham in the Batmobile. Sure, he¹s got a Batwing and a Batjet and a Batcopter and even a Bat-Segway, but mostly Batman relies on his ride to get from point A to point B.” said David Campbell in his Batmobile essay.

The Bullitt Come back

Way back in the 1960’s, the Mustang Bullitt hit the Hollywood screen with exhilarating car scenes. And now Ford’s racing pony comes back jam packed with the latest Ford Racing Technology features for its 2008 model year come back.

The special chassis and suspension tweaks make the Mustang Bullitt a versatile race icon. The new 4.6 liter V-8 engine built under its hood turns out a roaring 315 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque.

“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt embodies the true spirit of the 1968 movie car,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Like the original Bullitt, this car dials the driving dynamics up a notch for Mustang enthusiasts who love the performance, handling and the sweet sound of Ford power that only Mustang can deliver.”

Early next year, you can expect the Mustang Bullitt to gallop in showrooms and dealership with a tag price of $31,075 which already include the destination charges. Ford limited the production of the Mustang Bullitt to only 7,700 units for the U.S and Canada.

“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt delivers balanced performance,” said Paul Randle, chief engineer. “Comfort is not compromised for performance. Performance is on demand. You can easily take Bullitt from the track to the street and back onto the track with confidence.”

The movie that gave the Mustang Bullitt its name celebrates its 40th year of release by Warner Bros. Pictures and the launching of this all-new vehicle is nothing but a great time. In the movie, legendary actor Steve McQueen drove a Dark Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT that gained cult status among Mustang enthusiasts, thanks to a seven-minute scene that film and car buffs believe defined the modern movie car chase.

“The machined appliqué differentiates the Bullitt from any other Mustang in the line-up,” said Gaffka. “It’s also perfect for the Bullitt. The graphic presentation pings back the feel of the ‘60s while still staying true to the Mustang’s modern interior design.”

The Rogue Assassin

The hit movie “Rogue Assassin” stars “the One” hero Jet Li and the Transporter star Jason Statham. Directed by Philip G. Atwell, the inch-to-inch action film floods not just with the two world certified hit actors but with scenes that can make you eat all your popcorn until the last pop. Li plays as “Rogue” the international assassin that et off a bloody crime war between two Asian mobs: the Chinese Triad led by Chang (John Lone) and Japan's Yakuza headed by Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi). Car chases are also not deprived of this movie and perhaps is one of its highlights, as Jet Li rides his $257,000 silver Spyker C8 Spyder.

The magnificent Spyker has the following specs that brought it to the blockbuster action hit:

MSRP: $257,000 - $257,000
Length 165.0”
Body width 74.0”
Height 42.0”
Wheelbase 101.0”
Curb 2,750 lbs.

Interior
Maximum seating 2

Performance
Base engine size 4.2 liters
Base engine type V-8
Horsepower 400hp
Horsepower rpm 7,500
Torque 354 lb-ft.
Torque rpm 4,000
Drive type rear-wheel
Fuel tank capacity 1 9.8 gal.
EPA mileage estimates 14 / 19 (city/highway)

Not just the spyker, in the fictional Yamagawa Motors, which is Shiro’s car dealership, their showrooms are filled with high-end cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis that at one scene became bits and pieces. Although fans of Statham's "Transporter" movies will be excited that he's once again in a film with flashy modes of transportation, he's not the one driving the fancy cars but the One star.

"Rogue loves it. Jet Li doesn't," says Li dryly. "Jet Li when he was 20-years-old would have loved it."

"Rogue" is the possible beginning of an action trilogy by writers Greg Bradley and Lee Anthony Smith. Famed fight choreographer Corey Yuen designs the martial arts action, while Devon Aoki, Luiz Guzman and Nadine Velazquez co-star.