Later on today when we publish the latest episode of the AutoMK Podcast, you'll get to hear my voice quiver as I recall the original KITT in all its F-body glory. The one thing that irked me about KITT v1.0 was near the end of the series' run when he was destroyed and rebuilt with new features. Suddenly, KITT could go Mach 5 on the ground thanks to a new Pursuit Mode that was accompanied by every manner of wing, canard and automatically-extending aerodynamic supplement in the universe. The original KITT in Pursuit Mode was obviously the inspiration for the
new KITT in Attack Mode, which is just as garish an automobile in its own right.
Inevitably, comparisons between the KITT of our youth and the new KITT will occur like the one above, so we're pleased that Popular Mechanics bit the proverbial bullet and did a Special Features Comparison between the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am that played the original and the 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that's been hired for the new series.
Technology has advanced in the last 25 years and the new KITT has many more interesting features than the old one, like a mini-KITT reconnaissance drone, nanotech cloaking technology and DNA analysis equipment. It also features standard equipment that Pontiac didn't offer back in the day like 24-hour roadside assistance, heated seats and a heads-up display. But the new KITT is missing a few key items that could come in handy like a grapling hook, flame thrower and oil jets that shoot out the back. Also, the new KITT doesn't appear to accelerate as fast as the old one, which could hit 60 mph in 0.2 seconds with some help from its power boosters.
Click the Read link to see which car wins the battle of the better KITT.
[Source: Popular Mechanics]
