Everything You Need to Know About Ford BlueCruise
Ford BlueCruise is a groundbreaking hands-free highway driving technology that is revolutionizing the driving experience. This advanced driver-assistance feature builds upon existing technologies like adaptive cruise control and lane centering to enable true hands-free driving on over 130,000 miles of divided highways across North America. Rated the top active driving assistance system by Consumer Reports, BlueCruise allows you to take your hands off the wheel and let your Ford vehicle handle the steering, acceleration and braking in certain situations. It’s a major step towards autonomous driving that makes long highway trips and daily commutes less stressful and more enjoyable.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into all the details of how BlueCruise works, which Ford models it’s available on, how to set it up and use it, the latest software updates, and how it compares to hands-free systems from competitors like GM Super Cruise and Tesla Autopilot. By the end, you’ll be an expert on this cutting-edge technology.
How Does Ford BlueCruise Work?
At its core, BlueCruise combines adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and speed sign recognition to enable hands-free driving on certain divided highways, which Ford calls “Blue Zones”. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the system operates:
- Entering a Blue Zone: When you drive your BlueCruise-equipped Ford onto a compatible highway, the instrument cluster will display a message letting you know that hands-free driving is available
- Engaging BlueCruise: If the conditions are right, you simply press the adaptive cruise control button on the steering wheel to activate BlueCruise. The system will take over steering, keeping you centered in your lane, while also controlling your speed and following distance from vehicles ahead
- Hands-Free Driving: Once engaged, you can take your hands off the wheel and let BlueCruise handle the driving…. An interior camera monitors your head position and eyes to ensure you’re still paying attention to the road. As long as you remain attentive, you can enjoy the convenience of hands-free driving
- Driver Interventions: BlueCruise is designed for collaborative driving. You can make manual steering adjustments at any time without disengaging the system. However, if the camera detects that you’ve become distracted or drowsy, it will prompt you to return your attention to the road or resume control
- Blue Zone Limits: When you exit a Blue Zone highway or encounter a scenario that BlueCruise can’t confidently handle, like a construction zone, the system will prompt you to retake full control of driving
So in summary, BlueCruise uses an array of cameras, radar sensors and GPS data to accurately assess the vehicle’s environment and enable hands-free driving when conditions allow. But it still requires the human driver to supervise and intervene as needed.
BlueCruise vs. Super Cruise vs. Autopilot
Ford BlueCruise is often compared to the hands-free driving systems offered by competitors General Motors and Tesla. While they share the same general concept, there are some key differences:
- GM Super Cruise, available on select Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet models, is very similar to BlueCruise in its use of driver monitoring and geofenced highway maps. Super Cruise was the first hands-free system on the market and is still considered the benchmark. It offers automatic lane changes but is limited to about 200,000 miles of compatible roads
- Tesla Autopilot/Full Self-Driving (FSD) takes a different approach, using only cameras (no radar or lidar) and artificial intelligence to enable hands-free driving on a wider range of roads beyond just highways. However, Tesla’s system has faced criticism for not having a robust driver monitoring system, potentially allowing misuse . FSD also costs significantly more than BlueCruise or Super Cruise.
Compared to Super Cruise, BlueCruise has a more limited network of hands-free Blue Zones (130,000 miles vs 200,000 miles) and doesn’t yet support automatic lane changes. However,… Ford is rapidly expanding BlueCruise’s capabilities with over-the-air software updates. The latest version 1.2 update added hands-free lane changes, in-lane repositioning and more.
Compared to Autopilot/FSD, BlueCruise prioritizes safety with its effective driver monitoring system. It may be more limited in scope than FSD, but it provides a reliable hands-free experience on highways without the cost and complexity of Tesla’s approach.
Ultimately, all three systems relieve stress and fatigue on long drives while still requiring human oversight. BlueCruise stands out for balancing cutting-edge capability with robust safety measures at a competitive price point.
BlueCruise-Equipped Ford Models
As of 2024, BlueCruise is available as an option on the following Ford vehicles:
- 2023-2024 Mustang Mach-E electric crossover SUV
- 2024 F-150 pickup truck (XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Tremor trims)
- 2023 F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck (Lariat and Platinum trims)
- 2024 Expedition full-size SUV (Platinum and Platinum MAX trims)
- 2025 Explorer midsize SUV (ST-Line, ST, Platinum trims)
Availability varies by trim level, with BlueCruise typically offered on higher-end models. In some cases it’s included as standard equipment, while on other trims it’s part of an optional package or a standalone option.
Ford has committed to expanding BlueCruise across more of its lineup in the coming years as the technology continues to evolve. The company sees hands-free driving as a key selling point that will attract tech-savvy buyers looking to make their time behind the wheel more relaxing and convenient.
Setting Up and Using BlueCruise
If your Ford vehicle is equipped with BlueCruise, taking advantage of hands-free driving is a straightforward process. Here’s a quick overview of the setup steps:
- Activate FordPass Connect: This allows your vehicle to receive over-the-air software updates, including the latest BlueCruise enhancements. You can activate it through the infotainment touchscreen.
- Enable Hands-Free Driving:… Go into your vehicle’s settings menu and make sure the “Hands-Free” option is turned on within the BlueCruise submenu.
- Set Activation Prompts: While in the BlueCruise settings, you can choose whether you want the system to prompt you to engage hands-free mode when you enter a Blue Zone.
- Check Software Version: Ford regularly improves BlueCruise via software updates. Check that you have the latest version for access to the newest features and mapping data.
Once BlueCruise is set up, using it is easy. Here’s what to do:
- Enter a Blue Zone: Drive your vehicle onto a compatible divided highway. The instrument cluster will display a blue icon and/or hands-free message when the system is available.
- Engage BlueCruise: Press the adaptive cruise control button on the steering wheel. Confirm that lane centering and speed sign recognition are active. The blue icon will remain steady when BlueCruise is engaged.
- Go Hands-Free: Once engaged and centered in the lane, you can let go of the steering wheel. Keep your eyes on the road and be prepared to take over at any time.
- Follow Prompts: If BlueCruise needs you to take over, it will alert you with visual and audible cues. Place your hands on the wheel and steer as needed.
- Retake Control: When exiting a Blue Zone or ending your drive, press the cruise control button again or tap the brake pedal to disengage BlueCruise.
It’s important to remember that BlueCruise is not a fully autonomous system. It’s an assistive technology that still requires the human driver to supervise and intervene when necessary. Always follow the prompts and never use it in situations where hands-free driving is not safe or permitted.
The Evolution of BlueCruise
Since its launch in 2021, Ford has been continuously improving BlueCruise through over-the-air software updates. Let’s take a look at how the system has evolved so far.
BlueCruise 1.0
The initial release of BlueCruise offered hands-free driving on about 100,000 miles of divided highways across North America. It combined intelligent adaptive cruise control, lane centering and speed sign recognition to enable true hands-free capability. However,… this first iteration had some limitations. It did not support automatic lane changes or provide any steering assist outside of the Blue Zone highway network. The driver monitoring system was also fairly basic, only tracking head position and eye gaze.
BlueCruise 1.2
In 2023, Ford released a major update to BlueCruise, known as version 1.2. This update added several new features and enhancements:
- Lane Change Assist: While in hands-free mode, the vehicle can now automatically change lanes when the driver taps the turn signal stalk . This makes highway driving even more convenient.
- In-Lane Repositioning: BlueCruise 1.2 will subtly shift the vehicle’s position within the lane if it detects another vehicle or obstacle getting too close . This helps maintain a safer buffer zone.
- Improved Driver Monitoring: The system now tracks additional factors like blinking and head nodding to better detect driver fatigue and inattention . Alerts and prompts are more intuitive.
- Updated Blue Zones: Ford expanded the highway network where BlueCruise can be used hands-free. It now covers over 130,000 miles across North America
BlueCruise 1.2 represented a significant leap forward in hands-free driving capability. With lane changes and more proactive safety measures, it closed the gap with GM’s Super Cruise.
BlueCruise 1.3 and Beyond
Ford hasn’t announced specific plans for the next BlueCruise update, but the company has hinted at several areas of focus for future improvements:
- Predictive Speed Assist: Using GPS data and traffic sign recognition, BlueCruise could automatically adjust the vehicle’s speed for upcoming curves, hills, and speed limit changes.
- Automatic On/Off Ramps: Future updates may allow the system to handle highway entrance and exit ramps hands-free, making the transition from manual to automatic control even smoother.
- Intersection Assist: While likely still years away, Ford has expressed interest in expanding BlueCruise beyond highways to also help with navigating intersections hands-free.
- Improved Sensors: As sensing hardware gets more advanced,… BlueCruise may gain the ability to detect obstacles and road conditions farther ahead, enabling smoother hands-free driving.
- Predictive Maintenance: By analyzing data from BlueCruise-equipped vehicles, Ford could identify maintenance issues before they cause a problem and notify drivers to take action.
Of course, the exact timeline and feature set of future BlueCruise updates may change as Ford refines its technology roadmap. The company has to balance innovation with safety, regulations, and cost. But it’s clear that Ford is committed to the long-term development of BlueCruise as a key differentiator in the market.
BlueCruise and Safety
Safety is paramount when it comes to any vehicle technology, especially one as advanced as BlueCruise. Ford has designed the system with multiple safeguards to ensure a secure hands-free driving experience.
Driver Monitoring System
The core safety feature of BlueCruise is the driver monitoring system. Using an infrared camera mounted on the steering column, the system continuously tracks the driver’s head position and eye gaze to make sure they are paying attention to the road. If the driver looks away from the road for too long, or starts to show signs of fatigue like excessive blinking or head nodding, BlueCruise will prompt them to refocus their attention. If the driver does not respond, the system will disengage and gradually slow the vehicle to a stop while alerting other drivers with the hazard lights.
This direct driver monitoring is a critical advantage of BlueCruise over systems that only rely on steering wheel torque or other indirect methods to detect driver engagement. It helps prevent misuse and ensures the driver is always ready to take control when needed.
Geofenced Operation
Another key safety feature of BlueCruise is its use of high-definition GPS mapping data to restrict hands-free operation to certain divided highways. These “Blue Zones” have been carefully mapped by Ford and deemed suitable for hands-free driving based on factors like road type, lane markings, and traffic patterns…. By geofencing the system to only work in these pre-approved areas, Ford can ensure a higher degree of safety and reliability. The vehicle always knows where it is and what kind of road it’s on, so it can provide the appropriate level of assistance and prompt the driver to take over when necessary.
This is in contrast to systems like Tesla Autopilot, which can be engaged on a much wider range of roads but may not always be able to handle the complexities of local streets and intersections. With BlueCruise, there’s no ambiguity about when and where hands-free driving is safe and appropriate.
Redundant Control Systems
To ensure reliable operation, BlueCruise uses redundant control systems for critical functions like steering and braking. If one system fails, there’s a backup ready to take over seamlessly.
For example, the electric power steering system has a dual-circuit design with two independent motors. If one motor fails, the other can still steer the vehicle safely. Similarly, the brake system has both hydraulic and electric actuators, so it can still stop the vehicle if one or the other malfunctions.
These redundancies help minimize the risk of a catastrophic failure that could endanger the driver and other road users. They also give the driver more confidence that BlueCruise will perform as intended every time.
Over-the-Air Updates
Ford is committed to continuously improving the safety of BlueCruise through over-the-air software updates. As the company gathers more real-world data from BlueCruise-equipped vehicles, it can identify areas for improvement and push out updates to enhance the system’s performance and safety.
For example, the BlueCruise 1.2 update added more advanced driver monitoring capabilities to better detect fatigue and distraction. Future updates could bring even smarter obstacle detection, smoother control handoffs, and more intuitive alerts.
By keeping BlueCruise up-to-date with the latest software, Ford can ensure that every vehicle on the road has the safest and most capable version of the technology…. It also allows for quick fixes to any bugs or issues that may arise, without the need for a physical recall.
Regulatory Compliance
As a relatively new technology, hands-free driving systems like BlueCruise are still subject to evolving regulations and standards. Ford has worked closely with policymakers and safety advocates to ensure that BlueCruise complies with all relevant laws and best practices.
For example, BlueCruise adheres to the guidelines set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for advanced driver assistance systems. These include requirements for driver monitoring, system disengagement, and driver alerts.
Ford has also been active in shaping the regulatory landscape for hands-free driving. The company has advocated for clear and consistent rules across all 50 states to avoid a patchwork of conflicting regulations. It has also supported voluntary standards efforts by organizations like the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to establish industry-wide best practices. By staying at the forefront of regulatory compliance, Ford can ensure that BlueCruise remains a safe and legal option for drivers as the technology continues to evolve.
The Future of BlueCruise
As impressive as BlueCruise is today, it’s just the beginning of Ford’s vision for hands-free driving. The company has laid out an ambitious roadmap for the future of the technology, with plans to expand its capabilities and availability over the coming years.