Ford is enhancing its BlueCruise hands-free driving technology with the launch of BlueCruise 1.5, introducing a new feature designed to make highway driving even more seamless: Automatic Lane Change. This latest version of BlueCruise can automatically initiate lane changes to pass slower-moving vehicles, allowing drivers to maintain their preferred speed without needing to take control.
Hands-Free Highway Driving, Enhanced –
Picture yourself cruising down the highway with BlueCruise activated, maintaining a steady speed of 70 mph. If you encounter a slower vehicle ahead, such as a truck traveling at 55 mph, BlueCruise 1.5 can detect the situation and smoothly move your vehicle into the next lane to pass, keeping you hands-free while staying on the move. This feature, developed by Ford’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) team, aims to make hands-free driving more engaging and reduce the need for driver intervention.
The Automatic Lane Change feature is designed for a natural driving experience. It carefully assesses traffic conditions before making a lane change, aiming to avoid merging into lanes with faster-moving vehicles or navigating areas where off-ramps and lane markings could create confusion. This allows drivers to spend more time using the hands-free feature without interruptions, helping to maintain a smooth flow of travel.
How It Works –
When a lane change is needed, BlueCruise 1.5 checks for a clear adjacent lane and ensures there’s enough time to make the maneuver safely. Before the change takes place, drivers receive a visual and audio alert, along with an explanation of the reason for the move—such as passing slower traffic or moving out of a passing lane.
The lane change occurs automatically unless the driver takes action to stop it, such as tapping the turn signal in the opposite direction or holding the steering wheel steady. If a driver prefers not to use the Automatic Lane Change feature, they can turn it off through the vehicle’s Driver Assistance settings.
Improved Hands-Free Time on the Road –
With BlueCruise 1.5, Ford has found in internal testing that the system can automate up to 45% of lane changes during an average drive, making the time spent in hands-free mode even longer compared to previous versions. The technology is designed to make long highway trips less stressful, allowing the vehicle to handle common lane changes without the need for driver input.
This feature builds on Ford’s previous updates to BlueCruise, including improvements in handling curves and navigating narrow lanes. BlueCruise 1.5 aims to provide a smoother experience on highways, whether drivers are on their daily commute or embarking on longer road trips.
Starting with the Mustang Mach-E –
BlueCruise 1.5 will debut on the 2025 Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s electric SUV that has been a testing ground for BlueCruise since its initial release. The rollout follows earlier versions, like BlueCruise 1.2 and 1.3, which enhanced driving performance and refined the hands-free experience. Alongside Automatic Lane Change, BlueCruise 1.5 introduces other enhancements for hands-free driving in a wider range of conditions.
Ford plans to expand BlueCruise 1.5 to additional models and model years in the future, providing more customers with access to the latest advancements in hands-free driving.
Making Highway Driving Easier –
Since BlueCruise’s introduction, drivers have quickly adopted its hands-free capabilities for both short and long trips. In the U.S. last year, around 77% of BlueCruise trips lasted under 20 minutes, often during daily commutes. However, for longer journeys, such as road trips, BlueCruise was used over 50% of the time for trips lasting more than an hour. The technology has become a convenient way for drivers to ease the burden of long drives, especially during peak travel times like holidays.
With the launch of BlueCruise 1.5, Ford is taking another step toward making highway driving more relaxing and enjoyable. As more drivers experience the benefits of automatic lane changes, Ford’s vision of a safer and more connected driving experience continues to take shape.