After a two-year hiatus marked by a global recession and the bankruptcy of America’s largest automaker, General Motors will return to the Super Bowl for 2011. GM had planned to be a part of the massive sporting event advertising spectacle but pulled out of the event earlier this year. The move not only hurt the NFL but also the advertising agencies on Madison Avenue. Over the past 15 years GM has spent $80.5 million buying ads during the event.

Importantly, the decision to rejoin the Super Bowl melee comes as former Hyundai marketing boss Joel Ewanick signed on as head of GM’s marketing department. Ewanick coined Hyundai’s “Big Voices in Big Places” campaign that saw it get involved in events like the Super Bowl and Academy Awards, a move which is considered to have helped the brand grow while most others struggled last year.

Hyundai will also be advertising at Super Bowl XLV with three spots, while Audi has also confirmed participation. Added interest is expected to drive up the cost of ad spots after spending dropped by 24 percent last year.

[Source: WSJ]

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Ahead of their official airing during Super Bowl XLIV, Hyundai has released two of its commercials. The first is called “10 Years/Favre” and is set 10 years in the future where a 50-year-old Favre (even more gray-haired than now) accepts the MVP award and contemplates retiring… again. With the words, “We don’t know what things will be like 10 years from now,” Hyundai points out that its powertrain warranty on your new Hyundai will still be around.

The second commercial, called “Paint” isn’t humorous, but highlights the all-new 2011 Sonata (its paint in particular) as a work of art. Hyundai also returns to its old gimmick of comparing its products to some rather high-end models, ending the clip with the words, “Better paint quality than a Mercedes CLS550.”

Both commercials are narrated by actor Jeff Bridges, who’s voice is rivaled only by Morgan Freeman.

See after the jump for both videos, as well as a few of Hyundai’s past Super Bowl ads.

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