Rivian releases David Hasselhoff Knight Rider and Back to the Future Halloween updates

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Famed actor and singer David Hasselhoff has teamed up with US electric truck and SUV brand Rivian for a batch of Halloween treats owners can activate from their smartphone for their vehicle's infotainment system.

Rivian introduced the first electric pick-up in the US when it launched the R1T in 2021 and has followed with a trio of electric SUVs – the R1S, R2 and R3 – none of which are sold yet in Australia.

While the Tesla rival has yet to make a profit since it began building electric vehicles, Rivian is clearly not afraid to make a splash this Halloween as it looks to bring a fun element to owners.

Hasselhoff – who played the lead role of Michael Knight in the original 1980s TV crimes series Knight Rider– revived the famous character to reveal the Rivian Halloween package which includes retro-graphics in the same style as his famous car, a black Pontiac Firebird-based artificially intelligent and autonomous four-wheeled robot named 'KITT'.

KITT stood for 'Knight Industries Two Thousand' and was loaded with technology which Hasselhoff – as an operative for the Foundation for Law And Government (FLAG) arm of Knight Industries – used to fight crime.

Hasselhoff appears in the 30-second Rivian clip – posted on social media – in a black leather jacket like the character Michael Knight wore and fires up the Rivian to reveal the dash graphics, selecting 'Pursuit' mode as per the television series car while uttering the words "It's good to be back".

The actor's line may be teasing fans after rumours of a return of the television series, last rebooted in 2008-2009, but regardless the fun brings the party to Rivian owners this Halloween.

For owners, activating the Knight Rider treatment instantly plays the TV series' iconic theme song accompanied by the suite of retro graphics in the same style as the 1980s Pontiac – including the 'Pursuit' mode the star uses in the clip.

The graphics take over the instrument cluster, centre infotainment display and even rear seat screens and show a digital tachometer and other features seen on the dash of KITT in the TV series, such as the ability to drop an ‘oil slick’ to foil a chasing vehicle.

It also creates a moving red flash of colour across the Rivian's front and rears horizontal lighting strips as a further nod to the original KITT.

The Knight Rider party trick is one of three 'costumes' offered by Rivian for Halloween 2024, with the second based on the Back to the Future movie trilogy which starred actor Michael J. Fox.

It includes graphics inspired from the famous DeLorean time machine used in the films – such as the three dates showing the user the date, the date they're going to and the last date visited – as well as sound effects from the soundtrack.

While both show Rivian's target customers are kids of the 1980s, the final choice is the more universal 'Haunted Rivian' theme.

It brings zombie colours in and out of the car, including 'Foggy Bog' and 'Crimson Moon' accent lighting and spooky sound effects – such as a hooting owl or crow – when the vehicle is being locked such as a hooting owl or crow.

There's also Halloween-themed graphics displayed for each individual drive modes, including multiple pumpkins, as part of the playful package.

Rivian released a single Halloween 'costume' in 2023 but has stepped up its offer to owners with the three themes in 2024

Interestingly, the fictitious KITT boasted features such as autonomous driving – including an 'Advanced Collision Avoidance’ system – seen in many road cars four decades later.

In the TV series KITT was also powered by hydrogen, now used by several car makers – including Hyundai and Toyota – for fuel-cell vehicles, with a handful of hydrogen filling stations now operating in Australia. 

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