There’s no shortage of Knight Rider’s KNIGHT 2000 toys out there. From an action-figure-scale toy to one that transforms into a robot to a model kit, K.I.T.T. has it all. But alas, as screen-accurate as these might be, you cannot commandeer one like Michael Knight did. Well, that is, until now.
Enter the Kyosho First MINI-Z Knight Rider, a 1/28-scale remote-control replica from the classic 1980s sci-fi series. The sleek black body of the original 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am has been faithfully recreated, right down to the screen-accurate wheels and iconic scanning red light. The latter is LED-powered and sweeps back and forth just like the real KNIGHT 2000. It also has light-up taillights, but no working headlights, which is kind of strange.
It measures 175 mm long, 76 mm wide, and 45 mm tall. As the product name suggests, this is not the regular hobby-grade MINI-Z. It is the First MINI-Z, produced under Kyosho’s Kyosho EGG toy division, which is a simplified, budget-friendly gateway model designed for casual indoor fun.
So, no, it is not based on the MR-03 or MA-020 chassis, and it is also not customizable and, understandably, not as fast. Speaking of speed, the RC car offers two modes: training, which limits the top speed to 7 km/h, and racing, which allows up to a blazing 10 km/h.
That works out to a mind-bending 280 km/h IRL. But, of course, that’s ignoring gravity and momentum. Even if you want to be picky and get all scientific, it is 53 km/h, which is still fast in real life.
It comes with a 2.4 GHz controller with an integrated stopwatch, which operates on, well, the 2.4 GHz frequency and has a range of around 25 meters. It supports the simultaneous operation of up to 12 MINI-Z units, so recreating car chases and knocking over the six included mini pylons is possible.
The RC car runs on two AA alkaline batteries (not included) and offers up to 60 minutes of playtime before you need to swap them out for a fresh set. That’s for the RC car. The transmitter is also powered by two AA alkaline batteries (not included).
The Kyosho First MINI-Z Knight Rider has been launched in Japan for 7,678 yen [JP] (about US$50).
Images: Kyosho [JP].