KITT

Knight Industries Two Thousand
Knight Rider character
Replica of KITT on display at Universal Studios.
First appearance	Knight of the Phoenix (Pt. 1)
Created by	Glen A. Larson
Portrayed by	1982 Pontiac Trans Am
Voiced by	William Daniels
Nickname(s)	KITT

Knight 4000
Screenshot of the Knight 4000 in the FLAG laboratory.
First appearance	Knight Rider 2000
Created by	Glen A. Larson
Portrayed by	1991 Dodge Stealth customized to look like a 1988 Pontiac Banshee concept car.
Voiced by	Carmen Argenziano (Knight 4000's original A.I.) (uncredited) later William Daniels (KITT A.I.) (uncredited)
Nickname(s)	The 4000, later KIFT

Knight Industries Three Thousand
Knight Rider character
KITT in its Pilot Attack Mode
First appearance	"Knight Rider" (2008 pilot)
Created by	Glen A. Larson
Portrayed by	2008-2009 Ford Shelby GT500KR
Voiced by	Val Kilmer

KITT is the short name of two fictional characters from the adventure TV series Knight Rider. While having the same acronym, the KITTs are two different entities: one known as the Knight Industries Two Thousand, which appeared in the original TV series Knight Rider, and the other as the Knight Industries Three Thousand, which appeared first in the two-hour 2008 pilot film for a new Knight Rider TV series and then the new series itself. In both instances, KITT is an artificially intelligent electronic computer module in the body of a highly advanced, very mobile, robotic automobile: the original KITT as a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, and the second KITT as a 2008/2009 Ford Shelby GT500KR. KITT was voiced by William Daniels in the original series, and by Val Kilmer in the 2008 series.

In the television show's history, the first KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) (William Daniels) was designed by the late Wilton Knight, a brilliant but eccentric billionaire and founder of the Foundation for Law And Government (FLAG) and its parent Knight Industries. The 2008 pilot movie later implied that Charles Graiman, creator of the Knight Industries Three Thousand, also had a hand in designing the first KITT.

According to the series, the original KITT's main cybernetic processor was first installed in a mainframe computer used by the US government in Washington, D.C. However, Wilton saw better use for "him" in the Foundation's crime-fighting crusade and eventually the system was installed in the vehicle. KITT was in fact the second vehicle built by Knight Industries with artificial intelligence. His predecessor was KARR, the Knight Automated Roving Robot. KARR was programmed for self-preservation, but this proved to be dangerous to the Foundation's humanitarian interests. KARR was later deactivated and placed in storage while KITT was given to his new operator, Michael Knight. KARR was later unwittingly reactivated by thieves in the original episode "Trust Doesn't Rust", was thought destroyed, then reappeared in the episode "K.I.T.T. vs. K.A.R.R" and was seen to be finally destroyed by Michael and KITT.