Ford's BlueCruise hands-free system to cost $600 for 3 years

Table Of Content

• Predictive Speed Assist
• Stellantis’ Free2move grows as other short-term rentals close
• Ford BlueCruise v1.2 Review: Hands-Off Highway Driving Gains Some Impressive New Skills
• We check out how the new system works in a 2023 Mustang Mach-E.
• Works With the Driver, Not Against
• Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free system to cost $600 for 3 years

The vehicle was about to drive directly into a barrier in hands-free driving mode before we grabbed the steering wheel and quickly maneuvered to the lane to our right. That's not to say it's perfect — and, given all of these systems are Level 2 despite being hands-off, there's no claim that you can stop paying attention — and highway lane shifts can still cause some fumbles. The change from two to three lanes, for example (or vice-versa), can cause BlueCruise issues at times, though the system is swift to resume once you're back to more predictable roads. Thanks to Ford’s mapping data, BlueCruise knows information such as the GPS location of the lane, lane width, lane curvature, and changes in elevation. The information is onboard the vehicle, and Ford will update the maps over the air as needed. It relies on highway mapping and cannot operate in hands-free mode on roads that aren't pre-mapped.

Predictive Speed Assist

During an interview with representatives from Ford, we were told that they “choose very carefully what to show drivers” in terms of messaging on the instrument cluster. But they also acknowledge that they’ve been listening to feedback from customers and “are looking at a future enhancement” to the system, although they wouldn’t elaborate on the details. To further help their customers understand the nuances of BlueCruise, Ford says it is developing how-to videos on the system. Then again, it’s reasonable for manufacturers to request a subscription for self-driving software since they’re expensive to develop and maintain. Well, it’s certainly cheaper than the Tesla’s AutoPilot, which is $99 or $199, depending on the package.

Stellantis’ Free2move grows as other short-term rentals close

With BlueCruise, even if the driver takes over the steering, the system still provides lane centering steering-wheel torque, but we found that it works with the driver instead of feeling like it’s working against them. According to the automaker, the $200 per year subscription cost was a discount when BlueCruise was first introduced in the 2021 Mustan Mach-E models. Besides that, Ford upgraded BlueCruise last year with new features such as In-Lane Repositioning, Predictive Speed Assist, and Lane Change Assist. The new BlueCruise 1.2 is a standard feature in the latest Mustang Mach-E models, and it could be another reason why Ford is increasing the subscription cost. Of course, it’s likely that other Ford models like the F-150 Lightning or the gas-powered F-150 truck that will come with BlueCruise 1.2 will also be affected.

Ford BlueCruise v1.2 Review: Hands-Off Highway Driving Gains Some Impressive New Skills

Although BlueCruise has taken notable steps in the right direction for active driver assistance systems, Ford has made some missteps, too. We found that it doesn’t communicate enough information to the driver about when and why they are being told to suddenly put their hands back on the wheel when the system is in its “hands-free” mode. Nonetheless, highway driving is a chore, and I undoubtedly feel more comfortable at the end of it with a system like BlueCruise to support me. The challenge — as with most advanced driver assistance — is ensuring attention without nagging so aggressively that it's not worth having the tech turned on. At launch, the system will allow owners to navigate more than 100,000 miles of divided highways without the need to place their hands on the steering wheel.

That's despite the Mustang Mach-E shifting very close to the edge of the lane at points, away from the neighboring truck. Now, customers will have several new ways in which they can get access to the feature. They can pay for it when they order their vehicle online or from a dealership, with a three-year commitment costing $2,100.

The Bronze Appearance Package is more for show than go, but an exclusive performance package will also be available to add go-power. This new Mach-E variant joins the 2024 Mustang Mach-E Rally and is designed for off-pavement driving.

Tesla started offering its Full Self-Driving feature as a $199 a month subscription in 2021. GM’s Super Cruise costs $2,500 to install upfront as well as a monthly rate to keep it active. The company also says the feature works on 97 percent of controlled access highways in the US and Canada — which translates to around 130,000 miles of road. Previously, customers had to decide at the dealership whether they wanted to purchase a new Ford vehicle with BlueCruise hardware installed — and they couldn’t go back and change their minds if they opted not to include it. Now, the hardware will come standard on many new vehicles, and customers can decide at any time whether they want to activate it.

Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free system to cost $600 for 3 years

With predictive speed assist, BlueCruise will adjust the speed downward if it detects the curve in the road is too sharp for the speed the vehicle is currently traveling at. There are five levels of autonomy as established by the Society of Automotive Engineers and Ford's BlueCruise is considered a level 2 ADAS. Level 2 ADAS systems require the driver to stay focused on the road and be prepared to intervene at all times.

We understand that situation isn't one that BlueCruise should be able to negotiate on its own, and why the driver needs to be alert and ready to assume control of the vehicle. But in that instance, we would expect the vehicle to offer audible and visual warnings as we approached the obstruction in the lane, and that simply didn't happen. Ford is not the only company shifting to subscription payments for its advanced driver-assist products.

The New 2023 Mustang Mach-E with the BlueCruise options has 1.2 installed in the vehicle and existing Mach-E vehicles will begin to receive 1.2 through an OTA update soon. Ford officials declined to say how much the subscription will cost after the first three years. The feature finally will give Ford an answer to General Motors’ Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot systems, although Ford has vowed to make BlueCruise more intuitive. We've come a long way from having a six-CD changer being the centerpiece of the automotive entertainment system. Aftermarket head units, aux cables, and even a flip-up DVD player were the be-all, end-all of excitement just a decade or two ago.

If your Mustang Mach-E or F-150 doesn’t come with BlueCruise as a standard feature, you would need to pay $995 to install the hardware. However, Ford has recently increased BlueCruise subscription to $2,100 for three years. BlueCruise hardware is standard on Mustang Mach-E CA Route 1, Premium and First Edition models. It’s available on the Select trim as part of the $3,200 Comfort and Technology package, which includes the subscription charge. The automaker said it tested the system on more than 600,000 miles of divided highway, including a recent 110,000-mile road trip across 37 states and five Canadian provinces.

Ford's advanced BlueCruise driver assist features will only be available as a subscription - Engadget

Ford's advanced BlueCruise driver assist features will only be available as a subscription.

Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If a customer doesn’t choose this option, they can also activate a $75 a month or $800 a year subscription — with a 90-day complimentary bonus. Ford is changing how it sells its hands-free BlueCruise driver-assist feature to its customers. We found BlueCruise enjoyable to use because it provides steering assistance on straight, boring sections of highway, or when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, which can make driving less stressful and more relaxing. In-lane repositioning will automatically scoot the vehicle over to the other side of the lane when it detects another vehicle approaching too close for comfort next to you. You remain in your lane, but instead of the usual lane centering, the vehicle slides over to allow a few more feet of space between your vehicle and the vehicle next to you that's encroaching on your lane.

Ford BlueCruise Price Increases Draws Ire From Current Users - Ford Authority

Ford BlueCruise Price Increases Draws Ire From Current Users.

Posted: Mon, 29 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Engage the system, and a large steering wheel graphic appears; big text confirming you're in "Hands Free" mode underneath makes understanding whether you should be touching the wheel or not straightforward. Ford's graphics show whether there's a car ahead, though you don't get the birds-eye view of traffic that, say, Tesla's Autopilot UI includes. With version 1.2, which debuts first on the 2023 Mustang Mach-E and will arrive on the Lincoln Corsair shortly, BlueCruise gains two significant talents. The first is Lane Change Assist, which allows BlueCruise to move the car between lanes with a tap of the indicator stalk. The second is Lane Repositioning, intended to build confidence in the system when you're surrounded by other — often larger — vehicles. When the Ford BlueCruise was released, the subscription cost was $600 for three years or $200 per year.

Lane Change Assist allows the vehicle to execute a lane change on its own while driving in hands-free mode. As long as it's safe to do so, the driver simply needs to use the turn signal to let the system know what lane they want to enter, and BlueCruise will do the rest. Ford has begun rolling out the latest version of its hands-free advanced driver assist system (ADAS), BlueCruise 1.2, and so far the reviews have been mostly favorable. We asked and were granted the loan of a 2023 Mustang Mach-E, equipped with BlueCruise 1.2, so we could test out the system ourselves.

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