Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assist feature has undergone a few notable changes in the past couple of months, all as it continues to expand its user base. In fact, BlueCruise usage has skyrocketed since debuting in the 2021 Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang Mach-E, largely due to its expanded availability across several models in both the Ford and Lincoln lineups. Back in October 2024, The Blue Oval unveiled BlueCruise 1.5, and now, it’s officially available – but only in the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E, at least, for now.
The most notable update present in BlueCruise 1.5 over version 1.4 is the addition of Automatic Lane Change, which enables the feature to initiate precisely that when the vehicle approaches slower-moving traffic. Developed by the Ford Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) team, Automatic Lane Change enables users to stay engaged in hands-free mode longer than before, even in traffic. BlueCruise 1.5 will try to avoid merging with traffic that’s moving much faster than the vehicle, as well as the right-hand lane where off-ramps and inconsistent lane markings are present, or merging with traffic that requires the driver to put their hands back on the wheel.
According to Ford’s own testing, these updates resulted in BlueCruise 1.5 being able to automate up to 45 percent of lane changes. In order to work properly, the feature must first detect a clear adjacent lane and sense that there is enough time to complete the lane change smoothly, after which the system will inform the driver with visual and audio prompts to let them know that the vehicle is about to change lanes, along with the reason for the change – whether that be to pass slow-moving traffic or move out of the passing lane once that process is complete.
It’s worth noting that BlueCruise 1.5 requires upgraded advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and additional computing power, which is why it won’t be available on older models that are already BlueCruise capable. The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E boasts that capability thanks to new ADAS sensors and cameras, along with a faster processing unit, upgrades that will expand to other models in the existing lineup in the near future.
Comments
So Ford screwed all the previous BlueCruise owners. Thanks!
Should they become non-competitive in that area and not update/upgrade the system?
Yes in true Ford Farley F up fashion.