What Is Ford Co-Pilot360?


Co-Pilot360 is Ford’s name for its suite of driver-assist features that are available throughout its lineup. Though feature availability varies by model, the key components are forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection; blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert; lane keep assist; automatic high-beam headlamps; and the federally required backup camera.
Related: 2021 Ford F-150 and Mustang Mach-E Owners: New Features Coming Your Way
Co-Pilot360 debuted on the 2019 Edge SUV and has since become available across the Ford brand, except on heavy-duty pickup trucks.
A major addition to the package for 2021 is BlueCruise, a hands-free highway driving system available on the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E. Hardware for the system has been installed on thousands of 2021 models of each since the start of production, but the system won’t be activated in those vehicles until the software that manages it becomes available later in the summer.
BlueCruise (originally called Active Drive Assist) works with Ford’s “intelligent” adaptive cruise control, which has lane centering and speed sign recognition, to allow hands-free driving on specific divided highways in the U.S. and Canada designated “hands-free zones.” An infrared camera monitors the driver’s eyes and head position to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road and provides visual warnings if they aren’t.
The hardware is included in the Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package that is standard on F-150 Limited and Mach-E California Route 1, Premium and First Edition models and optional on others. As an option, prices for the hardware range from $1,595 to $3,200, depending on model and how it is packaged with other features.
The software to operate the system will cost an additional $600 for three years of service and will be available as an over-the-air update starting in “late summer into fall,” Ford spokesman Mike Levine told Cars.com. Levine added that when the BlueCruise software becomes available over-the-air for existing vehicles, Ford will begin installing it on new F-150s and Mach-Es during production.
With BlueCruise, Ford joins Tesla and GM’s Cadillac brand in offering Level 2 driver-assist technology, the shorthand for partial driving automation that requires a human in the driver’s seat who can take control at any time.
Ford says it plans to offer BlueCruise on other models, but has not said which ones or when.
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