Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, Solar, AutoblogGreen Exclusive
New KITT's "Solar Powered Hybrid Engine" TV ad
Recently, I told you the new KITT, in the upcoming Knight Rider TV movie, would have a solar powered hybrid engine. NBC is showing a TV commercial highlighting this green feature. You can watch video of the TV commercial below the fold. The ad also mentions that the new KITT has 550 horsepower and race-tuned suspension standard.
As AutoblogGreen reader CARazed reminds us, the first KITT was actually very green too. According to Wikipedia, the first KITT used liquid hydrogen in a turbine engine and got 100 MPG. The new KITT is based on Ford's Mustang Shelby Cobra, which is not a hybrid. In reality, Ford's only hybrid is the Escape SUV. If you want a green, all-electric Mustang, check this out.
Stay tuned for a review of the movie after it airs February 17th.
[Source: NBC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mirko 4:52PM (1/28/2008)
The old KITT must have had a whole lot more than 550 horsepower to be as fast as they claimed.
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matt 12:18PM (1/29/2008)
This is a TV/Movie car. The General Lee "flew", Speed Racer "jumped", and now KITT is solar?
Gimmie a break. How about reporting on real technology in the real world. Leave this kind of stuff for E! News.
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Sebastian 12:51PM (1/29/2008)
KITT is pretty cool and I very much like to hear about him especially if it's coupled with some Green news. Thanks.
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Ernie 4:18PM (1/29/2008)
Now, I was pretty young when Knight Rider was on TV (I was 7 or 8, and probably both), but I distinctly remember that on the show, "Turbo Boost" meant "jump". Later seasons included a "super turbo boost" button that enabled auxillary rocket engines.
So now it's a solar-powered hybrid. Mmm. That's quite consistent with the original series.
Even when I was 8, I knew that KITT was in fact, powered by 100% pure bullshit. You can put as much technobabble and hand-wavery in the script as you like, but the fact remains that there isn't a single person on the set who actually passed high school physics. They're all art students who wouldn't know what science was if it dragged them into a dark alley and beat them with a baseball bat for 15 minutes straight.
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Lascelles Linton 6:14PM (1/29/2008)
Ernie, Turbine is real tech. Solar hybrid is not impossible. Some exist today. Cars talk to use today "your door is ajar" and directions. GM showed off a car that drives itself at CES. Writers often use concepts of things that are about to made. I wrote a follow up on culture because it really matters and should shrugged off. Okay, maybe rocket, jumping cars will never happen but you never know :D
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