Latest Version of Ford BlueCruise, Lincoln ActiveGlide Adds Hands-Free Lane Changing
The hands-free driving systems Ford BlueCruise and Lincoln ActiveGlide will receive a number of enhancements for upcoming version 1.2, including hands-free lane changing. The newest version will debut on 2023 models, beginning with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, but unfortunately, Ford has not yet shared any plans regarding if or when these features might appear on BlueCruise- or ActiveGlide-equipped vehicles already sold and on the road.
Related: How Well Does Ford’s BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving System Work?
The enhancements address many of my complaints from my recent long-distance road trip to test BlueCruise in Cars.com’s long-term 2021 Ford F-150 Limited hybrid. Hands-free lane changing will allow users to, well, change lanes without using their hands. Our version of BlueCruise requires manually switching lanes and temporarily deactivating BlueCruise, and if you’re simply passing slower traffic, you have to repeat the process to return to your original lane. With version 1.2, the system will switch lanes if the driver activates the turn signal and, according to Ford, can even suggest changing lanes to pass a slower vehicle.
During my trip, BlueCruise also seemed to have difficulties negotiating curves at higher speeds. Version 1.2 adds Predictive Speed Assist, which can slow the vehicle down as it approaches curves and will notify the driver of what’s happening in an effort to alleviate potential concerns.
The last complaint this update addresses was my feeling that BlueCruise kept the F-150 too close to vehicles in the next lane, particularly semi trucks. Ford is adding In-Lane Repositioning to version 1.2, which it says will adjust the vehicle’s position within its lane when next to other vehicles. Ford says this “makes the hands-free highway driving experience feel more natural” and should reduce concerns when driving next to larger vehicles.
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