• December 14, 2007

Ford's limited-edition 2008 Ford Shelby GT500, which launches this spring, will be the central character in a remake of the hit TV series "Knight Rider," debuting in February on NBC.

The deal was put together by Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Ford Global Brand Entertainment. The original had David Hasselhoff driving a Trans Am that could talk. The new version stars Justin Bruening, who drives the Shelby. The deal includes product placement of other Ford vehicles in the two-hour show, media sponsorship, commercials and promotions for Ford products. NBC is mulling making the show a weekly series. Ford says its Sync telematics and entertainment technology will be in storylines in vehicles like the Focus and Edge. The arrangement allows NBC and Ford to co-promote both the movie and the cars at special events, in theaters, in print and on the Internet.

--Karl Greenberg