Ford Mustang KITT

NBC made it official - the new KITT car from the new Kingth Rider is a Ford Mustang. There will be three versions of the KITT Ford Mustang used in the series:

- KITT Hero - a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR
- KITT Attack - a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero
- KITT Remote - a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.

The KITT Ford Mustang in the Hero version will develop 540 hp and the KITT Ford Mustang in the Attack version - being a super high-speed version of the Hero - will probably develop a little more (or just have some extra aerodynamic body parts).

Press Release:
As “Knight Rider” — NBC’s iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie event on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) — NBC unveiled the new customized KITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held at NBC’s Burbank Studios today.

The movie stars Justin Bruening (”Cold Case,” “All My Children”), Deanna Russo (”NCIS,” “The Young and the Restless”), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (”Veronica Mars,” “Grindhouse”) and Bruce Davison (”Breach,” “Close to Home”). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) — who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series — returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC’s “30 Rock,” “Blades of Glory”) will provide the voice of KITT. Dave Bartis (”Heist,” “The O.C.”) and Doug Liman (”Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “The Bourne Identity”) serve as executive producers.

NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie.

The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero — a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with 540 horsepower; the KITT Attack — a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms into Attack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized body parts — and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.

As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body — thanks to its creator’s work and nanotechnology — is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car — and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles’ (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he’s a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago — and that her father is in serious danger.

Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn’t seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who’s behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.

David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill (”Dexter,” “The Tudors”), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

Acne Drug Can Slow MS?

Researchers in Calgary are preparing to begin a new study to see whether a commonly available acne medication could help delay the crippling effects of multiple sclerosis.

The medication, called minocycline, has been available for over 30 years. If it’s proven effective in delaying the progress of MS, it could offer an inexpensive option for the treatment of early stages of the disease.

A small study on 10 patients a few years ago yielded promising results. Now, clinical researchers in 14 Canadian centers will be taking an in-depth look at the drug in a $4-million, two-year study funded by the MS Society of Canada.

Minocycline is a prescription antibiotic used to control acne by killing the germs that prompt outbreaks. But the drug also offers anti-inflammatory properties, which researchers believe are responsible for its ability to slow the progress of MS.

The smaller study found that the drug substantially reduced the activity of the lesions that develop on MS patients’ brains and spinal tissues. The study found that the drug reduced the lesion activity by 84 per cent.

Now the researchers hope to replicate those findings in a larger human trial.

“The aim of our research is to see if this common drug can reduce the occurrence of further disease activity in people who have experienced an initial attack of MS symptoms and who are at high risk of progressing to definite MS,” says Dr. Luanne Metz, principal investigator for the study and a professor of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.

“Without treatment, two-thirds of people facing this circumstance are expected to be diagnosed with MS within six months. We believe minocycline can reduce this number.”

What also makes minocycline exciting is that it offers few side effects and can be taken in pill format, says Metz.

It’s also relatively cheap. At a cost of about $800 a year, minocycline is vastly cheaper than current medications, which can run between $18,000 and $40,000 annually.

Researchers note that minocycline would not necessarily replace current therapies, but might delay the timeframe in which they would be required.

Enrollment for the 200 patients needed for the study is set to begin in January, 2008, and will take place in 14 health centers across Canada.

Study sites will enroll people who have had their first attack of MS-like symptoms within the previous 90 days, after referral from their neurologist. This means that people who currently have MS will not be eligible for this clinical trial.