Chevrolet Takes All-New Traverse Crossover To The World Series

27th October 2008 1:00 pm

For the third consecutive year, Chevrolet teams up with Major League Baseball’s World Series to hit another vehicle out of the ballpark - the all-new Chevrolet Traverse crossover. In addition to a brand-new TV spot that debuts tonight during the Chevy Pre-Game Show and Game One on Fox, Chevy is expanding its multi-media, MLB postseason blitz to introduce the Traverse to millions of baseball fans.

Building upon the Traverse theme of “Everything you’ve ever wished for … and then some” because of its segment-leading cargo room and fuel-efficiency, the promotion includes an opportunity for fans to visit www.worldseries.com/chevy for a chance to win a trip to the 2009 All-Star Game. Visitors will learn more about the Traverse and download a virtual ticket for the first four World Series games on Oct. 22, 23, 25 and 26. Winning ticket numbers will be revealed live during the game broadcasts.

“We successfully used the past two MLB postseasons to engage baseball fans in support of the Chevy Silverado and Chevy Malibu. This year, as the all-new Traverse steps up to the plate, we’ll surround fans with on-air, onsite and online messages about Traverse’s segment-leading capabilities, design and fuel economy,” said Kim Kosak, Chevrolet general director for advertising and sales promotion.

Chevrolet’s partnership with the World Series also includes sponsoring the Chevrolet Player of the Game and the World Series’ Most Valuable Player awards. At the conclusion of this year’s Series, the MVP will receive a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro as Chevy eyes Camaro’s much-anticipated launch next year.

Chevrolet has been the official vehicle of Major League Baseball since 2005. “Like baseball, Chevrolet is ingrained in the culture of America, and this audience is a prime target for us as we continue to grow our car and crossover business,” said Kosak.

The brand-new, 30-second TV spot debuting tonight opens in a setting filled with mythical creatures. In a clearing, where a gleaming Chevy Traverse sits, one of the creatures eyes the sticker and sees for himself that a stylish, eight-passenger, fuel-efficient crossover is not a myth. View the ad at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9CSD5KAhE

“We dialed up the spot’s creativity to help dispel the myth that customers have to choose between efficiency, style and amenities,” said Bob Wingo, CEO and president of Sanders\Wingo, which created the ad.

Other Chevy Traverse MLB World Series tie-ins include:

On-air: In addition to at least two Traverse spots per game, Chevy will air other TV spots, including one that touts the Chevrolet Silverado as America’s Best Truck, as well as Chevy’s Fuel Solutions commitment to fuel economy leadership.

In Game Three of the Series, MLB and Chevy will name the national winner of the prestigious 2008 Roberto Clemente Award Presented by Chevy. The award is given annually to the player who combines outstanding skills on the field with devoted work in the community. It is named for Clemente, a 12-time All Star and Hall of Famer who died in a 1972 plane crash on New Year’s Eve while delivering supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

More than 400,000 fans voted online among 30 MLB club nominees to help select the national winner, who will receive a cash donation and a Chevy vehicle for his charity of choice. In addition, Chevy will make a cash donation to the nonprofit Roberto Clemente Sports City as well as donations to each of the 29 other finalists’ chosen charities.

Onsite: Ads featuring the Traverse are in the collectible World Series game program; two Traverse LTZ models will be prominently featured at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia; and “All New Chevy Traverse” messaging appears on the home plate signage, as well as in animated video billboards and spots that are also highly visible to TV audiences.

Online: Fox Sports announcer Jeanne Zelasko, host of the Chevy Pre-Game Show, narrates virtual vehicle interior and walkaround videos at www.worldseries.com/chevy that demonstrate the style, best-in-class cargo capability and eight-passenger seating of the Traverse. Visitors can take a short quiz to learn more about Traverse and register for the online tickets that could get them “everything they’ve ever wished for … and then some” - tickets to the 2009 MLB All Star Game.

About Traverse

Building on the momentum of the successful Malibu launch, the Traverse crossover is taking the competition head on. It has more seating than Toyota Highlander, more cargo space than Honda Pilot and the segment’s best EPA-rated highway fuel economy, at 24 mpg (2WD models).

Traverse is offered in LS, LT and LTZ models, in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. Highlights include:

Expressive styling inspired by the 2008 Malibu
Optimized aerodynamics that enhance fuel economy and reduce wind noise
Four-wheel independent suspension system
StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
Family of 17-, 18- and 20-inch wheels
Side Blind Zone Alert technology on LT and LTZ models
Second-row Smart Slide seat feature, for easy access to the third-row seats
Rear-seat entertainment system with second-row controls
Six standard air bags, including side curtain air bags that deploy over all three seating rows
OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Direction Download and eNav (with navigation system)
XM Satellite Radio including NavTraffic real-time traffic feature (with navigation system)
Pricing for front-wheel-drive Traverse models, including the destination freight charge, begins at $28,990 for LS; $31,545 for LT and $39,810 for the top-of-the-line LTZ. All-wheel-drive models begin at $30,990 for LS; $33,545 for LT and $41,810 for LTZ.

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