Hyundai now delivers over-the-air display themes to six models through its Bluelink Store, adding the Tucson, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, and IONIQ 5 to the Palisade and IONIQ 9 that previously had access. The themes change startup and shutdown graphics on the driver display and center screen. Four themes are available: Nature, Hyundai Pony (a tribute to the brand’s 1974 first model), PEANUTS, and a new FIFA World Cup 2026 theme. The World Cup theme is free through October 19, 2026.
The expansion lands the feature on most of Hyundai’s highest-volume U.S. models. Eligibility begins with 2024 model year Santa Fe, 2025 Tucson, Santa Cruz, and IONIQ 5, and 2026 Palisade and IONIQ 9. The themes require Hyundai’s embedded Connected Car Navigation Cockpit infotainment system and an active Bluelink subscription. Owners browse and purchase through the Bluelink app or website, then install the update themselves in the vehicle.
Purchased themes remain active for the life of the vehicle and transfer to the next owner if sold, which is an unusual choice in a market where subscription tethering is more common. Hyundai provides connected services free for the duration of ownership, a posture distinct from competitors that bundle complimentary periods and then charge.
The themes themselves are cosmetic. They do not change functionality or add driver-assistance features. The PEANUTS theme offers three variants with Snoopy and road-trip imagery. The FIFA World Cup theme incorporates the official 2026 logo and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and Spot robots, presumably a nod to Hyundai Motor Group’s ownership of Boston Dynamics.
Hyundai frames the themes as cabin personalization in an era when screens dominate attention. Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America, described the car as “one of the few places where people can reconnect with what they truly enjoy.” The language is softer than Hyundai’s typical announcements, which suggests the company knows it is selling emotional appeal rather than measurable utility.
The Bluelink Store will eventually offer features beyond display themes, though Hyundai has not specified what those will be or when they will arrive. For now, the store is a delivery mechanism for graphics packages on a subset of the lineup. Whether buyers will pay for visual customization after the free World Cup theme expires is the unanswered question.
Source: Hyundai. Images courtesy of Hyundai.
