Peyton Manning Gets “Blindsided” With Buick

In 2012, Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos for $93 million.

But did you know he also “signed” with General Motors, to promote its stylish and luxurious compact sedan, the Buick Verano?

Both deals turned out to be fortuitous for all involved, especially considering Buick’s recent line of commercials featuring Peyton Manning. Check out the most recent commercial featuring Manning -Blindsided.

The Verano promotion is a good “fit” in that Buick needs to convince the car-buying public good things come in small packages. The 2013 Verano represented Buick’s first foray into the compact sedan segment. The fact that Manning is a good-sized, 6′ 5″ NFL quarterback helps make the case that Buick can deliver a spacious interior in the compact Verano.

The fact that Peyton Manning is a fairly soft-spoken family guy is also a good match for Buick. Honestly, can one imagine Tom Brady hanging out in a compact sedan?

Buick Marketing VP Tony DiSalle puts it this way, “Peyton Manning is approachable, and that’s synonymous with what Buick is – an approachable, down-to-earth luxury brand. While he’s certainly elevated and premium in terms of his position in the NFL, he’s easy to relate to and likeable.”

The first series of Verano commercials featuring the Broncos play-caller featured “audibles” to an Intellilink-equipped Verano to help him maneuver through a construction zone. Now, the Verano’s Cross Traffic Safety Alert system convincingly keeps Manning from getting “blindsided” by a big, brown truck barreling down the road.

For some NFL fans, the reaction to Manning avoiding a collision is probably pretty visceral. After, all this isn’t your journeyman QB. Peyton Manning is one of the pre-eminent quarterbacks of this generation. And, he’s returned after multiple neck surgeries no less.

Peyton himself discusses the potent use of football imagery to promote Buick’s acclaimed Verano, “We’re talking about the new Verano but using important football lingo. Last year we were calling audibles and this year it’s a spot called “Blindsided. No one wants to be blindsided, especially a quarterback. Usually you have one guy protecting the blindside but these features are so good, it’s really like having 11 guys blocking your blindside.”

Actually, the Verano helps drivers to avoid being blindsided in a variety of ways. The Rear Vison Camera is standard on every 2013 Verano. Its wide-angle view gives a motorist a decent command of the environment to the rear of the vehicle. The Side Blind Zone Alert signals the approach of faster-moving vehicles in the adjacent lane. Finally, the Rear Cross Saftey Alert system is the one that keeps Manning’s Verano safe from an unwanted rendezvous with that big truck.

It is capable of detecting cross traffic behind the vehicle that is as far as 65-feet away. When it does, a directional red arrow appears on the screen dispaying the rear camera image. Three directional beeps make the alert still clearer to the driver. This is the dangerous kind of traffic that can normally catch one off-guard backing out of the driveway or backing out of a parking space.

The two traffic alert safety systems share radar sensors tucked away in the corners of the rear bumper. These sensors, along with the camera, give the motorist the extra eyes that pro quarterbacks can only wish they had when a defensive corner comes barreling around the corner to potentially “blindside” the unsuspecting quarterback.

Undoubtedly, the Manning TV commercial will only gain traction as his second season with the Broncos approaches. The powerful imagery in the “Blindsided” spots should result is many viewers taking a closer look at what the Verano offers.