KITT's front nose

[rulloa81]

KITT's front nose is probably the main thing that makes KITT stand out from any normal trans am. I know that they used a regular nose in the pilot episode too, and I think it definitely looks better with the longer pointed nose. But I was wondering what purpose the longer nose really serves? I would think that the longer nose has a better chance at getting ruined on a turbo boost landing than a regular shorter nose. What do you guys think? Maybe the longer nose was meant to add more protection in situations where KITT is crashing through walls and stuff like that. Does anybody know?

[TurbomanKnight]

The Nose was basically used to give the car a more sleeker appearance. It also allowed the car to have an opening for the scanner with out cutting anything. It also gave the car a new profile. So it didnt seem like a stock car driving around.

[HungarianKnight]

The pointed nose concentrates breaking point energy to the object Kitt wants to break through. It is like a battering ram, the energy Kitt uses will not dissolve in a large surface but in one smaller yet tougher area.

[James_kr]

The pointed nose fits the scanner better. It also acts as what HungarianKnight said. It would make it easier to push objects. It would help with aerodynamics and particually in SPM would work better for the dynamics.

[sarfraz]

...did I hear aerodynamics? my thesis was about the aeodynamics of the front end of a Firebird.....and stealthly about KITT aswell

Without making everyone got to sleep, the Firebird already had great aerodynamics and a nice front end which redirected the airflow over the top and around the side of the nose. The main problem with KITT's nose is the cutouts for the foglights and scanner. Along with the exposed foglights themselves, airflow becomes highly disturbed and generates more drag than a standard Firebird nose.

If there was a clear sheet over the scanner section and foglights, drag would be theoritically less than a standard Firebird as although airflow characteristics are similar, theres a greater surface area for airflow to dispurse over. Coupled with the lower airflow separation due to the lower nose, it would be reduce drag.......which Pontiac pretty much confirmed with the 1992-style nose.

Sarfraz...you lot can wake up now!

[andy-kitt]

zzzzz

Oh sorry mate, are you saying that the '92 nose is more areodynamic than '82 nose or worse??

as that too has lamps set back like KITTs nose.

Talking of noses, people say they changed in different seasons, whats the difference?? all I notice is the cover for front side lamps gets removed & moulded into the nose.

[rulloa81]

I think in seasons one through three the nose is the same and it had the covers for the front side lamp. In season four KITT is remade and the nose moulded perfectly with the hood of the car leaving no gaps on either side of the scanner.

[sarfraz]

zzzzz

Oh sorry mate, are you saying that the '92 nose is more areodynamic than '82 nose or worse??

as that too has lamps set back like KITTs nose.

Talking of noses, people say they changed in different seasons, whats the difference?? all I notice is the cover for front side lamps gets removed & moulded into the nose.

....well yes and no. Its a low curved nose, and the recessed lights are not as exposed as the fog lights on KITT, which have massive air pockets around it. If the 92 nose lights were fitted flush it would win this hands down.

92-96 nose good, 82 nose good, KITT nose very bad.....simple enough for ya

Ever wondered why all sport-cars have similar curved low noses....clues in my first post!

Sarfraz