Ford ups BlueCruise’s hands-free time with version 1.4 update

Ford on Thursday announced an updated version of BlueCruise, which enables the automated driver-assist system for highways to operate in hands-free mode much longer than earlier versions.

The new version BlueCruise 1.4 can now handle conditions such as a tight curve, narrow lane, inclement weather, and the sun’s reflection on the sensors, which according to Ford results in the system operating in hands-free mode around five times longer than version 1.2 launched a year ago and eight times longer than the original version 1.0 launched in 2021.

Ford said BlueCruise 1.4 also delivers a more natural driving feel compared to earlier versions, thanks to enhancements that automatically and smoothly adjust the vehicle’s speed in curves.

The new version also provides improved in-lane stability, Ford said, thanks to a new motion controller that helps reduce side-to-side movements within the lane.

Ford BlueCruise 1.4 in comparison to earlier versions

BlueCruise 1.4 will be rolled out on select 2025 Ford and Lincoln vehicles. It will also be available via a software update on select vehicles in the future, the automaker said.

BlueCruise is offered with either a complimentary trial period or an included duration, after which vehicle owners will need to sign up for a subscription.

According to Ford, BlueCruise can currently operate on around 130,000 miles of divided highways in the U.S. and Canada. When entering one of these areas, which Ford refers to as Blue Zones, the driver will be prompted and only needs to activate cruise control to get BlueCruise running.

Like General Motors’ Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot with Full Self-Driving, the driver still needs to monitor the road and be ready to take over at any time, thus ranking these systems at only Level 2 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability. Level 3 is the first ranking where the driver can take their eyes off the road, and currently only Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot has the Level 3 ranking.