It had been rumored for more than a year that Hot Wheels would be doing the Elite treatment for Knight Rider. Today we have our first official confirmation from the Nuremberg Toy Fair that things are moving along nicely, with a hopeful 2012 release.

It started with the HotwheelsElite twitter account teasing us with a view of a tall poster with Michael Knight and the phrase "Nobody Tells Me What To Do. Except My Car." with two display cases with silver KITTs inside.

Thankfully the site toycollector.com got a much closer look, and we get our first up close peak at these models. The models shown here are tooling models, but the attention to detail so far looks amazing! Can't wait to get our hands on these.

In addition to these two Elite models, we've been told that there will also be a 1:64th scale KITT for the 2012 Hot Wheels First Editions line. No specific release date or pricing has been released, however Hot Wheels Elite is saying that both the 1:18 and the 1:43 will be limited to 10,000 pieces.

[thanks to jjsocrazy and motor_head !]

If you've been itching to get your hand on these toonified creations from Minimates now finally is your chance. They've became available in your local comic shop recently, and from what we hear have been tough to keep in stock. Check out comic shop locator to find a retailer nearest you, or at a speciality store online. Remember that MSRP is $14.95, so be careful to not over pay.

Diamond Select Toys was kind enough to send us some of them our way for review, and boy are these items well done! Currently available is the SPM KITT with Michael in blue shirt, and KARR with Garthe Knight (the standard KITT with Michael in red shirt is a Toys R Us exclusive not released). While the scale does prevent them from replicating every exacting detail, there was a lot of little nice touches that made me smile. From little things like Michael Knight having his wrist comlink, to a pretty successful execution of a dash and upper and lower consoles. The cars themselves have working doors, while the figures are pretty posable, allowing you to bend them into any staged situation you wish. And while KARR and Garthe never teamed up in the series, you know that is where the writers were going to take it eventually!

There is some minor assembly required, primarily in applying decals. Be sure to give extra time and care when applying them in the interior due to the cramped working area.

For the diehard fan, or for the young kids at home, there is no reason not to buy this and enjoy. Hours of fun is about to be had, DST and Minimates have a great product on their hand, we can't wait to see what comes next.

We are giving away one SPM KITT with Michael Knight and one KARR with Garthe Knight to a lucky reader thanks to DST! Simply fill out the form below to enter.

We will be meeting up with Diamond Select Toys at the Toy Fair in NYC next month, where they plan to reveal some updates of their licenses including Knight Rider!

Knight Rider collectibles are about to be brought to a whole new level, with an upcoming release by Minimates! Popular with collectors for their unique playfulness, they create products that are faithful to the spirt of the licence, while varying as needed for a 2" inch figure scale, appealing to the simple collector and fanboys alike.

We've been teased with images from their Knight Rider license prototypes for several months. They have just released some shots taken with the final production models. Gone is the matte finish, mold lines, and what we are left with is a slick product that we can't wait to get our hands on. In the gallery above, any images on the white background are from the original prototypes, while the city shots are final production items.

We spoke with Diamond Select Toys about them, and got some clarification on where you'll be able to obtain these. There will be three models will be available starting in January, but some may be harder to find than others:

1. Michael with red shirt and KITT at Toys R Us online and in store. This item is a TRU exclusive, and wont be able to be found elsewhere.
2. Michael with blue shirt and SPM KITT at comic shops, speciality stores and independent online retailers. SPM wont be able to convert to non-SPM mode.
3. Garthe and KARR also at comic shops, speciality stores and independent online retailers.

Minimates has other Knight Rider products in the pipeline (including a version with electronics), so if these items sell well - there will be more to come! We will let you know when we learn more.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment this week announced the availability of a new collection on DVD called "The Best of the 80s". These two disc packs will feature the best episodes from Magnum P.I., The A-Team, Miami Vice and Knight Rider.

They have not publically announced which episodes have been included, only letting us know that the first disc will have a running time of 3 Hours 5 Minutes, and the second of 4 Hours and 52 Minutes. It will be available on June 14, 2011. Which episodes do you think they'll include?

You can pre-order it now on Amazon for $13.49.

When Knight Rider news falls through the cracks, our weekly(ish) KITT Bytes sweeps them up:

• Michael Scheffe the designer of KITT, appears this week on the Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy [Blu-ray] release, talking about his involvement in part 2 of the trilogy. You can watch a clip on YouTube
• The premier date for "The Hasselhoff's", David and family reality show on A&E, was announced. It will premier December 5th at 10pm. [press release at davidNet]
• Finally, check out this video from MJKnight, as he files his video report from KnightCon

David Hasselhoff and William Daniels recorded voices are available from Navtones for your GPS. Here are commercials they recorded to help promote this. William Daniels does his best KITT and discusses ridding the world of evil, while David Hasselhoff makes sure you take the Hoff-ramp.

If you were at Knight Rider Festival, then you undoubtably heard these being played from the First Street Stage, as Navtones was a sponsor of the Festival. They were kind enough to share them with us so everyone can check them out.

William Daniels as KITT is available for $9.95 while David Hasselhoff will cost you a reasonable $6.95! Both are available on navtones.com

Our good friends at Navtones will be releasing their updated voice for KITT tomorrow! Released for the first time to Garmin and TomTom devices includes updated usernames and voice clips (over the previous Mio release). Their voice for Hasselhoff is available now.

Navtones will also be sponsoring the Knight Rider Festival VIP party taking place this Friday. The Festival runs through Saturday and is free to raise support for the Children's Miracle Network. Their release on the VIP party is here.

Also, while we are talking Navtones. Don't forget to check out our exclusive AUDIO interview with WIlliam Daniels, the voice of KITT, during his recording session last year. The questions were submitted from fans of the KRO community!

Pre-orders are now being taken for the official merchandise of the Knight Rider Festival. This year, artist Nick Nugent has done a great job translating his Festival branding to a couple of great products. Available of course is the Knight Rider Festival T-Shirt, but unique for this year is a special limited edition copy of the poster. At 16" x 24" it's great for framing, and is specially printed with gold ink and signed by the artist. (For a look at the process in creating the poster, check out this really insightful representation of it's revisions) Quantities are limited, so be sure to order while you can.

Both items are available now for pickup in person at the Festival. The Poster is available to anyone not attending, but will not be shipped out will until the first week in March. Be sure to choose the right item when ordering.

It's important to note that a portion of the proceeds will be going to support the Children's Miracle Network. The mission of Knight Rider Festival is to help show that we as fans can make a difference in a child's life.

Order now at knightriderfestivalstore.bigcartel.com

If you're looking for a deal on some Knight Rider Festival 2009 merchandise, they now have a deal that might interest you. For $35 dollars, you get a Knight Rider Festival TShirt and the DVD made from the event, so you can relive it from the comfort of your own home. You can order on the Festival Store page.

And while you are there, be sure to check out the slick new site with artwork from Nick Nugent and webdesign by yours truely.

With the holidays upon us, the question turns to what to get that Knight Rider fan in your life. We've gathered a collection that any fan should enjoy, complete with items created by members of Knight Rider communities.

However, if you're looking for a way to make a difference for someone this holiday season, may we suggest a donation to the Children's Miracle Network or Save Ballona.

Continue after the jump to see our guide!

The Knight Rider community is filled with people making a difference, and this is no different. David Doggett is a great fan who works very hard to help keep the spirit of Knight Rider alive, as well as doing some great charity along the way. This time he's produced a Knight Rider calendar!

This two year (2010-2011) calendar contains some very rare photography. Craig Leary who did the driving for KITT in the intros has allowed some of his personal photography from that shooting to be used. And David himself included some of his photos from time spent on "Kickin It Old Skool" the 2007 movie where David Hasselhoff and KITT appeared.

Partial proceeds from the sale of this calendar will goto the Children's Miracle Network. Click here to email David for more information on how to get this calendar!

With the news recently that the former exclusive KITT voice was coming to other GPS devices, we started to wonder what was next for our friends at Navtones. When we first heard what that was, our first thought was "of course!"

David Hasselhoff, Mr. Michael Knight himself, was in the Navtones studio last week recording his dialog for his GPS voice and hopes to be as "irreverent and funny" as he is. It should be available as a downloadable add on to your TomTom or Garmin device. He posted this clip to his HoffSpace blog.

Also be sure to check out this fantastic clip we were very shocked to find in our mailbox, as special shot out from David to all the Knight Rider fans on knightrideronline.com! Thanks David, and thanks Navtones!

Remember, there is still time to get your voice added to the KITT release for TomTom and Garmin, visit navtones.com to add your name considered to be personalized.

Another clip with David recording is after the jump.

At the Knight Rider Festival, Paul Casey the shows creator introduced his beautiful daughter to us. She is a special needs child and the reason behind his strong drive to help make a difference.

Just like Paul, everyone who came to the Knight Rider Festival was there to make a difference. Some donated time, others money, and some the use of their creative talents.

If you could not come this year there is still a chance to make a difference and help children. Proceeds from the items in our store will go to charity. We've got official festival t-shirts, Knight Rider Online t-shirts and button packs.

We also ended up with an extra signed autograph sheet and some other goodies. So to continue on in the spirit of the event that brought all of these honored guests together, we are actioning it off for charity. We've put it together with a package where the winner will also received a official festival shirt, collectors edition copies of Today In Las Vegas (with KITT and Deanna Russo on the cover) as well as KRO pins and swag. Auction will end on March 31st and we will ship internationally!

As you already know the Knight Rider Festival kicks off in four days. To help raise money for the Children's Miracle Network we have again created a line of limited Knight Rider Online merchandise. These are now available from our custom merchandise store at pre-festival discounted rates.

There are two options for each item - either for pickup at the event itself or shipped to your home. The sale on the items ends the morning of the Festival. If you are attending the festival, look for us and you can pick them up there as well! The shirts final design was voted on by members of our forum.

Gray Knight Rider Online Shirt:


Red Knight Rider Online Shirt:

Uniting the past with the present is shirt contains both the Knight 2000 and the Knight 3000. This custom tee is printed on 100% cotton, professionally silk screened in three colors with a distressed vintage look.

This is a unique piece, so once the initial run is done, it's done! Price is $18 (plus $4 shipping to the US, $8 for international) +$2 if you need XXL or larger.

Four pack of Buttons:

By popular demand we've made a second series of buttons!

FOR PICKUP AT THE FESTIVAL:
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Red
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Gray
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Red (XXL ONLY)
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Gray (XXL ONLY)
Knight Rider Buttons - Series 2
Knight Rider Online, Vegas Badges

FOR SHIPED ITEMS:
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Red
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Gray
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Red (XXL ONLY)
Knight Rider Online Shirt '09 in Gray (XXL ONLY)
Knight Rider Buttons - Series 2
Knight Rider Online, Vegas Badges

Remember - proceeds from these tshirts will be donated via Knight Rider Online to the Children's Miracle Network. We're still accepting donations in any denomination (as little as $1!) via our donation page, please help the children!

Items will ship the first week in April.

Last week the Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) took place in Vegas. Mio, the company responsible for the Knight Rider GPS had a booth set up complete with a complete KITT replica sporting a Mio/Navtones GPS unit on the dash. Very cool high visibility display for sure!

If you already have one of these GPS units (which we've reviewed previously) and are looking for alternates on mount options - check out Arkon. All their Moov 300 mounts are compatible with the Knight Rider GPS and are very well made.