It’s only October, but already we’re gearing up for the holiday season. Coming up soon are Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and the Super Bowl.

That’s right, the Super Bowl. It’s hard to dismiss the fact that this annual event has practically become a holiday in the American tradition. While you’re planning the chip-and-dip combinations this year, leave some space in your living room for Hyundai.

In 2012, the automaker is planning some super Super Bowl commercials that are event-specific. Shawnee Mission Hyundai drivers should be on the lookout for two commercial spots on the NBC broadcast of the game, which airs Feb. 5 for viewers in Olathe. Hyundai will also be featured in a 60-second pre-kickoff commercial.

This isn’t the first time the car brand will be making an appearance during the big game, but the focus will be different than ever before. Traditionally, Hyundai’s take on Super Bowl commercials has been to highlight models that are minutes from the showroom as well as standout characteristics of Hyundai vehicles, such as value, exceptional return policies in response to the recession, revised design and fuel economy. But this year, Hyundai’s vice president of marketing hinted that commercials would have an emotional focus.

And, as any Shawnee Mission Hyundai driver knows, the connections that we have with our cars is more than a matter of settling for a certain price or number of seats. It’s about sitting in the driver’s seat and realizing that that is where you’re meant to be.This year will mark Hyundai’s fifth Super Bowl appearance, but it will be as important as ever – if not more. With the price of a Super Bowl spot set as high as $3.5 million in 2012, every second will count for the automaker that is going up against dozens of favorite brands.

So don’t get off the couch when you see the game come to a stop. Make this adopted holiday an opportunity to take a look at the cars you could be driving around Olathe. Hyundai spots are sure to give you a feel for the car that you belong in.