| Knight Rider Character | |
| K.I.F.T. | |
 | |
| Actor | Carmen Argenziano (4000 A.I.) William Daniels (2000 A.I.) |
| Character | Knight Industries Four Thousand Micro Processor |
| Related Characters | Russell Maddock Knight Industries 2000 |
| Partners | Shawn McCormick Michael Knight |
The Knight Industries 4000, or K.I.F.T. was the new FLAG vehicle in Knight Rider 2000. It is a copy of the 1988 Pontiac Banshee IV concept based from a 1991 Mitsubishi GTO or Dodge Stealth. This was supposed to be KITT's replacement but Michael Knight replaced the AI with the old one, allowing the original KITT to be reborn as the Knight 4000. KIFT's designer was Russell Maddock.
History[]
K.I.F.T. driving on water
KITT's original microprocessor unit was transferred into the body of the vehicle intended to be his successor, the "Knight 4000". The vehicle had numerous 21st Century technological improvements over the previous 1980s version of KITT. Due to Maddock's approach to cut costs, KITT noted some of the features installed just do not work.
Gadgets[]
- Virtual Reality Heads-up Display
- Rather than dash-mounted CRT displays, the Knight 4000 uses a virtual reality heads-up display (VR-HUD) that makes use of the entire windshield as video monitor.
- Thermal Expander
- The Knight 4000 was equipped with an offensive weapon which consisted of a microwave projector that caused the temperatures of targeted objects to quickly rise and either ignite or explode.
- Remote Target Assist
- This allows the pilot aim and fire with a complete and perfect accuracy.
- Amphibious Mode
- The Knight 4000 can float and maneuver on water much like a boat. The system was actually a major improvement over KITT's original hydroplane ability which during the original series was prone to malfunctions during its experimental phase.
- Microwave Stunner
- Similar to the “non-lethal” sidearms used by the police, the Knight 4000 was equipped with a microwave stunner that could incapacitate criminals.
- Voice Activated Controls
- The Knight 4000's dashboard is less "cluttered looking" than KITT's original dash with most of the controls now being completely voice activated rather than having to push a button.
- Fax Machine
- The Knight 4000 could print out faxed messages from a dash mounted printer.
- Infrared Scanner
- The Infrared Scanner was a device with which the Knight 4000 could scan on an Infrared level, which would identify laser scope rifles as well as hidden objects giving off heat.
- Aroma Monitor
- This system is similar to the Knight 2000's Olfactory Scan, but is much more complex.
- Voice Sampler
- Similar to the Knight 2000's Anharmonic Synthesizer, this device could simulate any voice which has been recorded into the Knight 4000's memory.
- Thermal Sensor
- This system allows to the Knight 4000 watch and record what is happening in a particular place. For example, inside a vehicle.
Trivia[]
- NBC-Universal would have used the actual Banshee concept for the Knight 4000, but Pontiac declined as they did not want another Knight Rider related problem, like in the 80s where people would come to local Pontiac dealers and ask for a KITT. They refused to give out the design blueprints and molds to Universal and Jay Ohrberg, the builder of the cars. Ohrberg was told to not make their car look much like the Banshee. Images published on the web show Ohrberg's initial designs applied onto the cars before being changed to the final look. Only the half car retains its old design, particularly the nose. Jay would later make a replica of the same nose and put it onto a jump car from Hardcastle and McCormick, with a statue of Taz on top].
- In the initial concept designs, KIFT was shown to be a black Banshee. The colour change is likely to be Universal straying from the original show due to a disagreement with creator Glen A. Larson, and/or to appeal more to girls (since Shawn has taken over Michael's place in the Foundation), for merchandise for the show that would've been made as a continuation.
- There are four cars built all in all, a hero car (identifiable with a clear windshield), its stunt double (rigged with backseat blind drive controls, and identifiable with a tinted windshield), a half car for interior shots with the dash, and a boat car, with an all-fiberglass replica of the exterior of the car.
- People often mix up KIFT and the actual Banshee concept.
- Jay Ohrberg actually integrated KITT's original voicebox to the dashboard, but the network declined. You can see it in the film disguised as some other gauge.
- The dashboards of the hero car and its stunt double were actually blank, as they were intended to be exterior-only cars. But when Jay Ohrberg restored the stunt double, the dashboard from the half car was integrated in to make a more complete appearance. The hero's dashboard remains blank after the primary restoration by car builder Robert "Videobob" Moseley.
Other appearances[]
After life with NBC-Universal for Knight Rider 2000, the two main cars, the hero and its stunt double, were passed on to different networks for various productions, with most of these productions that the cars appeared in revolving around sci-fi.
Shows and films the cars appear in:[]
- Fresh from the set of Knight Rider 2000, KIFT appears in Timecop episode "DOA", as a background vehicle. A significant addition to the car for this episode is a rear license plate, which appears to be blank.
- CHiPs '99, where it is painted all red and has a significant role, which is a very expensive concept car called the Z-2000, which is stolen and brought to Mexico.
- Still in its CHiPs '99 form, KIFT appears in the Black Scorpion episode entitled "Life's A Gas"], as the car of the villain Pollutia. It is rigged with such gadgets as exhaust corks and a smoke screen.
- In two episodes of Power Rangers: Time Force, both cars appear simultaneously as police units.
- In the Scare Tactics episode "Hell Ride", the hero car, in its Power Rangers form but with added crash test stickers, was used for extensive stunt work. This was the final appearance of KIFT ever made, as after filming this show, the engine was blown.
Gallery[]
K.I.F.T.s Center dash console with the voicebox monitor and a few buttons
K.I.F.T.s scanner
The Full Dashboard of the Knight 4000 during the Testdrive with Devon.