In this sequel to the original 1980's series, the distinctive voice of William Daniels is noticeably absent and the new KITT can change its color and shape.

NBC recently pulled the dust cover off “Knight Rider,” the now-classic adventure series about an intelligent, supercharged car.

Broadcast in February 2008, the two-hour pilot movie contains numerous connections to the original series, including a cameo appearance by former "Knight Rider" star David Hasselhoff.

A Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang Replaces the Original “Knight Rider” Pontiac Trans Am in the Pilot Movie

Dr. Charles Graiman (Bruce Davison), the scientist who created the first K.I.T.T (Knight Industries Two Thousand) car, has been working on a new government project known as “Prometheus.” When mercenaries arrive at his home and force him to reveal the secrets behind the project, Dr. Graiman has a heart attack and collapses on the floor.

As the doctor lays motionless, a driverless Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang in Graiman's garage comes to life and speeds away to find Sarah (Deanna Russo), Graiman’s estranged daughter who teaches nanotechnology at Stanford University.

All the Characters Have a History in “Knight Rider”

Dr. Graiman has programmed the Mustang, which has been designated the Knight Industries Three Thousand, to find and protect Sarah in the event that anything happened to him. With Sarah safely in the passenger seat, this brand-new KITT heads off to find Mike Traceur (Justin Bruening), an ex-Army ranger and Sarah’s former love interest.

Director Steve Shill (“The Tudors”) avoids wallowing in backstory and gets right into the action. Shill hooks viewers from the beginning and slowly reveals the complicated, interpersonal relationships between all the main characters, including an FBI Agent (Sydney Poitier) who was friends with Dr. Graiman.

KITT Gets an Upgrade

The original KITT had lots of electronic bells and whistles that were the stuff of science fiction twenty-five years ago, but since GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and television screens come standard in many vehicles today, KITT's original gadgets are more like science fact in 2008.

The new “Knight Rider” producers have upped the ante, giving the Knight Industries Three Thousand the ability to repair itself instantly and change appearance with the help of nanotechnology.

Mike Traceur is Not Quite Michael Knight

When the series debuted in 1982, David Hasselhoff played Michael Long, a police officer who was shot in the face and left for dead. Wilton Knight, owner and founder of Knight Industries, had Long’s face rebuilt and gave him the new identity of Michael Knight and the power to right wrongs as KITT's "pilot".

Mike Traceur, on the other hand, is a self-absorbed gambler who has racked up a $90,000 debt with Vegas mobsters. When the chips are down, though, Traceur usually does the right thing.

Val Kilmer, Will Arnett and William Daniels: The Many Voices of KITT

The most entertaining aspect of the original “Knight Rider” was the back-and-forth banter between Michael Knight and KITT. Voiced by character actor William Daniels (“Boy Meets World”), KITT always had a slight air of sophistication and superiority.

For the remake, Will Arnett was slated to lend his voice to the Knight Industries Three Thousand, but contractual obligations required producers to cast Val Kilmer as the voice of KITT. The new KITT sounds rather mechanical and matter-of-fact at first, but KITT starts to show more attitude by the end of the pilot movie.

Is KITT Back in the Shop For Repairs?

Though NBC hasn’t formally announced a regular series featuring Mike and KITT, the slick and speedy two-hour pilot movie demonstrated enough potential to qualify as a mid-season replacement at the very least. It’s obvious that there’s still enough tread left on KITT's tires for a weekly "Knight Rider" series.