Volt, KITT & Ferrari -- video on demand

Welcome to the Up to Speed video extravaganza. Here are three car-related clips. The second and third ones probably shouldn’t be viewed while at work (as tempting as that may be). Not because of any risque content, but because they’re quite long.

Opening with a joke is always a good ploy, so here’s Bob Lutz, vice chairman of General Motors, talking to Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert about the Volt.

Next comes the first episode of NBC’s new “Knight Rider” series, released on the Web a week before its TV debut. Gadgets, girls and a talking Mustang -- how can it fail?

Fantasy of a different kind now, at least for most of us. Click here for the official launch of the Ferrari California, which happened Thursday, September 18.

The presentation involves several dumb questions and plenty of bad corporate music, but the car is undoubtedly a looker. And considering the Golden State has been Ferrari’s biggest market for 50 years, this “tribute” (as Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo puts it) is a welcome one. Also, don’t Italians speaking English sound great?

-- Colin Ryan