Latest Version of Ford BlueCruise, Lincoln ActiveGlide Adds Hands-Free Lane Changing

Latest Version of Ford BlueCruise, Lincoln ActiveGlide Adds Hands-Free Lane Changing

The improvements address many of my complaints from my recent long road trip testing the BlueCruise at Cars.com for the long-term 2021 Ford F-150 Limited hybrid. Hands-free lane change will allow users to change lanes without using their hands. Our version of BlueCruise requires you to manually switch lanes and temporarily deactivate BlueCruise, and if you are simply going through slower traffic, you must repeat the process to get back to your original route. With version 1.2, the system will switch lanes if the driver activates the turn signal and, according to Ford, can suggest changing lanes to overtake a slower vehicle.

During my ride the BlueCruise also seemed to have difficulties negotiating curves at higher speeds. Version 1.2 adds a predictive speed assistant, which can slow the car as it approaches curves and will let the driver know what’s going on in an effort to alleviate potential concerns.

The last complaint this update addressed was my feeling that the BlueCruise kept the F-150 too close to the vehicles in the next lane, especially the semi-trucks. Ford is adding an In-Lane repositioning to version 1.2, which it says will adjust the vehicle’s position within its lane when it is next to other vehicles. Ford says this “makes the hands-free highway driving experience feel more natural” and should reduce fears when driving next to larger vehicles.