KARR (Knight Automated Roving Robot) is the evil clone prototype version of KITT, originally designed by Wilton Knight and built by his company Knight Industries. Upon completion of the vehicle, KARR's CPU was installed and activated. However, a programming error made the computer unstable and potentially dangerous. The project was put on hold and KARR was placed in storage until a solution could be found.
Unlike KITT, whose primary directive is to protect human life, KARR was programmed for self-preservation, making him a ruthless and unpredictable threat. He does not appear as streetwise as KITT, being very naive and inexperienced and having a childlike perception of the world. This has occasionally allowed people to take advantage of his remarkable capabilities for their own gain. Despite this, he does ultimately consider himself superior (always referring to KITT as "the inferior production line model") as well as unstoppable, and due to his programming the villains don't usually get very far. KARR demonstrates a complete lack of respect or loyalty, going so far as to on one occasion eject its driver to reduce weight and increase its odds of escape.
K.A.R.R's production changes
Originally , K.A.R.R Knight Automated Roving Robot appeared entirely identical to K.I.T.T Knight Industries Two Thousand all black with a red light scanning bar and the only difference was a yellow LED voice modulator on his Knight Industries Two TV dashboard and as well as the evil artificially intelligent speaking voice. when K.A.R.R returns in his return and last appearance in the original Knight Rider series and as well as the short-lived Knight Rider revived series and beyond in Knight Rider his scanning light bar was now yellow hued to match the coloring of K.A.R.R's voice modulator/ K.A.R.R's voice box. K.A.R.R later gets a black and silver two tone vehicle paintwork incorporating into his all familiar all black vehicle paintwork to differ against K.I.T.T Knight Industries Two Thousand. K.A.R.R's scanner originally made a creepy low droning noise but when K.A.R.R returns for his return and last appearance in the original Knight Rider and as well as the short-lived Knight Rider revived series and beyond in Knight Rider his scanner now instead sounds similar to K.I.T.T's but with an audio reverb added to it. K.A.R.R's engine originally sounding "rough" and "fierce" now instead also sounds similar to K.I.T.T's again affected by an audio reverb in his return and last appearance in the original Knight Rider and as well as the short-lived Knight Rider revived series. in The original Knight Rider series in his very first villainous debut appearance in Knight Rider K.A.R.R Knight Automated Roving Robot was originally first voiced by Peter Cullen who would later go on to play the heroic Autobot leader Optimus Prime in Hasbro's Transformers when K.A.R.R Knight Automated Roving Robot later returned for his return and last appearance he was instead voiced by the late legendary voice actor Paul Frees who also portrayed Master Gracey in The original disney Haunted Mansion attractions. Peter Cullen however , later reprised his role as The voice of K.A.R.R in the short-lived Knight Rider revived series as K.A.R.R 2.0 an evil artificially intelligent talking Ford Mustang GT500KR muscle car instead of an evil artificially intelligent talking Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car like the original K.A.R.R Knight Automated Roving Robot and once again appears similar to K.I.T.T all black with a yellow scanning light bar.
The KARR acronym now strangely and incorrectly stands for "Knight Auto-cybernetic Roving Robotic exoskeleton" and instead of an automobile, a schematic display shows a humanoid-looking robot with wheeled legs that converts into an ambiguous off-road vehicle. When KARR finally appears in the episode "Knight to King's Pawn", he takes a form similar to KITT as a 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR, but has an amber-colored scanner. Similar to the original character, this KARR had an AI that was programmed for self-preservation, and he was deactivated and placed in storage after he reprogrammed himself and killed seven people.
a spy infiltrates the SSC and activates a self-destruct program within KITT, placed there secretly by Dr. Graiman. In order to save KITT's operating system (which is given priority over his memories), Michael and Sarah transmit the files to the back-up computer at the headquarters, but the transmission is also intercepted by an unknown third party. It is stated that KITT, KARR and the base back-up computer are the only systems able to run the program, and leaves Dr. Graiman with only one conclusion: KARR is still out there, and someone is trying to reactivate him.[2]
KARR returns in the episode "Knight to King's Pawn", with Peter Cullen reprising his vocal role. A pre-recorded message from Dr. Graiman reveals that Mike was KARR's driver and his memories were erased after KARR became uncontrollable. He says that he knew of and opposed Alex Torres and the NSA's plans to reactivate KARR, as they wrongfully believe KITT's artificial intelligence will overwrite KARR's programming flaws. During the dismantling of the SSC (FLAG's control centre), KITT's A.I. chip is removed and delivered by Torres to the NSA, where it is installed into KARR. Mike vows to end this once and for all, and infiltrates Area 51 to rescue KITT, using another chip built by Billy. KARR activates himself, viewing the re-activated KITT as a threat that must be terminated. Alex states that he is now in charge and KARR must take his orders; KARR agrees, but then merges Alex with him as a driver to seek out Mike.
KARR seems to believe that it is his destiny to merge with Mike as before, and comes after KITT to destroy him and get Mike back. Despite KITT lacking his transformation protocols and weapons, Mike takes him into battle anyway. Using a grappling hook, Mike and KITT pull out KARR's chest plate, freeing Alex, and Turbo Boost through his body, destroying him in a manner similar to the destruction of KARR in the original series. Given the short nature of the battle and the ambiguity of KARR's fate, it is possible that the new KARR might return yet again, although in the following episode entitled "Exit Light, Enter Knight" Mike is told that the KARR project has been permanently abandoned. Strangely, despite KARR's acronym being "Knight Auto-Cybernetic Roving Robotic-Exoskeleton" in "Knight of the Living Dead", and "Knight to King's Pawn" Billy instead correctly refers to him using the original "Knight Automated Roving Robot" K.A.R.R.
K.A.R.R is once again similar to KITT, also a Ford Mustang GT500KR. The main difference once again is that KARR has a yellow scanner again, and that the scanner noise while similar to K.I.T.T's again is lower in sound , and has more of an echo. The sound difference is especially notable when KITT is racing toward KARR while KARR is still in Mustang mode.