Ford Motor Company recently launched an updated version of its BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. According to Ford, BlueCruise 1.2 has gained new features and system updates to make semi-autonomous driving feel more akin to actual driving.
Ford began offering BlueCruise in 2021 via over-the-air (OTA) software updates for the F-Series pickup and Mustang Mach-E electric SUV equipped with the optional Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package. Ford said 75,000 Ford and Lincoln owners have BlueCruise and ActiveGlide in their vehicles for hands-free driving on more than 130,000 miles of pre-qualified highways across the United States and Canada.
Ford BlueCruise 1.2: Updated Features
Ford’s BlueCruise 1.2 (and ActiveGlide 1.2 for Lincoln vehicles) will start arriving in fall 2022 and will first prove its wares in the Mustang Mach-E. BlueCruise 1.2 has three new features to its advanced driving assist portfolio: Hands-Free Lane Changing Assist, Predictive Speed Assist, and In-Lane Repositioning.
Hands-free lane changing starts by engaging the turn signal. The system will perform a hands-free lane-changing maneuver to the desired lane. Moreover, the system can suggest a lane change in slow-moving traffic. “We are investing in our ADAS team to constantly improve BlueCruise and ActiveGlide for our customers,” said Doug Field, Chief EV & Digital Systems Officer, Ford Model e. “These improvements are just the beginning of a constant journey toward improving safety and, in the future, giving customers valuable time back.”
Meanwhile, predictive speed assist alerts the driver when the vehicle slows down upon detecting sharp curves. The system will automatically reduce vehicle speed and maintain the appropriate velocity to enter a turn more smoothly and safely.
Last but not least is in-lane repositioning, a handy feature that keeps the vehicle in the center of the lane while shifting the car’s position away from vehicles on the adjacent road. Ford said in-lane repositioning makes hands-free highway driving “feel more natural” and is helpful when traveling next to large vehicles like semi-trucks.
Ford BlueCruise 1.2 Availability
BlueCruise and ActiveGlide use camera and radar sensing from ADAS safety kits like adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition, and lane centering. The BlueCruise 1.2 software starts at $600 for a three-year service period and is standard on some new Ford Mustang Mach-E trim variants.
