Yes, you read that right! I’ve been sitting on this for a while out of respect to KITTrules big reveal, but the news is all over the Internet now: satnav-maker Mio have announced the must-have item for any Knight Rider fan: a GPS system that actually uses William Daniels’ voice.

It is a standard full-color GPS unit that mounts on your dash, with a glossy black frame and the classic Knight Rider logo. The sides are designed to resemble the Knight 2000’s distinctive nose, with scanner bars that double-up as a kind of voice modulator. The lights don’t sweep back and forth like the original’s as the effect was considered too distracting to drivers, but they do light up periodically and during startup.

The unit is personalised, too: K.I.T.T. can be programmed to greet you by name every time you turn it on, with a variety of different recorded intros. The phrases have been specially recorded for the unit by Mr. Daniels, they are not samples taken from the TV series.

The device is going to be for Canada and the US — but there is hope for global fans: additional maps are available for purchase at Mio’s website for their other devices, so it’s expected that this unit won’t be any different.

It has a SRP of $270 when it becomes available.

Read more reviews for the device:

Mio’s Knight Rider GPS speaks with the voice of KITT — we’re in love
A K.I.T.T. of one’s own: Knight Rider GPS arrives
KITT Car: Knight Rider Themed GPS Unit

The ever-reliable Knight Rider Online have some neat pictures and a review of their own:

Knight Rider Online – GPS Pictures
Knight Rider Online – GPS Review

The Super-Pursuit Mode K.I.T.T. replica, previously owned by murdered businessman Andrew Kissel and relisted on eBay last week, finally sold for $53,000. The auction generated a great deal of publicity around the globe, and in many reports there continued to be confusion as to the car’s actual origins or role in the original series.

As previously stated, it seems the Trans Am was used during production of the later years of Knight Rider, but it was not an actual Super Pursuit Mode vehicle (which are all believed to have been destroyed). It was acquired by legendary Hollywood customiser George Barris, who added the wings and spoilers to make it look like the SPM car. It then appeared on The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour and The Benchwarmers movie.

Considering that the original Super Pursuit car came from Barris’ shop, it’s a shame that this one couldn’t have been more accurate (that rear spoiler attached to K.I.T.T.’s bumper is a horrible mistake, in my opinion). It’ll be interesting to learn if the car ends up in a private collection, or if it will be put to work either on the car show circuit or make further appearances in TV or film. Time will tell.

The Super-Pursuit Mode K.I.T.T. owned by murdered businessman Andrew Kissel has been relisted on eBay. Bidding starts at $20,000 for the vehicle, which was used in the movie The Benchwarmers.

Patrick R. Gill, who is handling the dismantling of Kissel’s estate, had put the car up for auction months ago but it was later removed after he started getting calls from all over the world questioning its authenticity. Gill apparently did more research and said yesterday that it is one of a handful of K.I.T.T. cars that were used in the original series.

The history of the car itself is a little sketchy. It is NOT a screen-used S.P.M. vehicle, but it seems that the Trans Am itself was used during the production of the show. The car was acquired by George Barris, who added the sculpts to the car to make it look like the 4th Season’s SPM. The car later appeared on The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour and the aforementioned Benchwarmers movie.

Kissel had purchased the car from an auction house in May 2005 for $69,000 but never took possession of it. Part of the agreement when he bought it was that he would allow the car to be used in The Benchwarmers.

Courant.com – Kissel Estate Puts Knight Rider’s K.I.T.T. on eBay

The auction can be found here:

eBay.com – K.I.T.T. Auction

With the news that Knight Rider is returning to TV screens in September, coverage by genre magazines dedicated to cult television and sci-fi has started (and will only increase once principal photography begins and the premiere approaches).

SciFiNow Magazine (issue 16) has a feature on the new show as part of their Fall TV preview, and also include Michael Knight in their list of top 1980s Icons (he’s number 9 in their Top 10).

Check it out!

SciFiNow Magazine Website

Just in time for the new series, Universal are releasing February’s TV movie on DVD on September 9th! The show will be presented in Anamorphic Widescreen, with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and English subtitles. They have also announced that the disc will include the following Special Features:

– Audio Commentary Featuring Executive Producer David Bartis, and Stars Justin Bruening & Deanna Russo
– Featurette: The Icon Reborn
– Featurette: K.I.T.T. – From 2000 to 3000
– Featurette: Knight Rider – Legacy
– Previews

It is expected to retail at $14.95 (SRP).

TVShowsOnDVD.com – Knight Rider Telefilm Comes to DVD