BlueCruise 1.4 Road Trip Observations

[KennyB123]

2023 Lariat ER - I was lucky enough to get the update on the first day they started sending it out. I didn't get a chance to really test it until a few days ago on a 300 mile road trip between the Detroit area and the Indianapolis area.

Living north of Detroit, I took I-94 south to I-75, to the Ohio Turnpike where I had my only charge of the trip. Then eventually to I-69 south.

Here are some of my observations -

1. On I-94 before the update, BC 1.0 would disconnect on EVERY curve, and even randomly if I drove in the left most lane with a yellow line on the left. On this trip, my mind was blown. Not a single disconnection through that entire segment, and the truck rarely even slowed down during those steep curves. (74mph)
2. On all highways, lane changes were great. It actually takes stress away because I quickly learned to fully trust it's own blind spot monitoring before auto lane changing. I just clicked the blinker and let it happen. It takes anywhere from 7 to 9 turn signal activations to finish the lane change, and yes, the rear turn signal light does light up for all of them, even the 3 or so blinks that occur before it starts to move lanes.
3. My first BC disconnection was when going through the EZ Pass fast lane camera area. After it did it on a second EZ Pass lane, I realized it was intended behavior. I'm not sure why, but it turned back on immediately.
4. A couple lane change observations - on BC 1.0, if you touch the wheel to change lanes, BC would disconnect. Now, you can "assist" the lane change by beginning the lane change earlier than it would on its own. BC remains engaged and happy. One time, I accelerated ahead of a car while manually lane changing, hitting 81 mph, and BC still didn't skip a beat. Amazing.
5. I had one emergency red box exclamation point moment when I only had a minor required deceleration, and yet BC remained engaged and happy after it was over in around 2 seconds.
6. The feature where the truck can get over on the opposite edge of the lane when passing a large vehicle like a semi truck was hit or miss. But, when it worked, it brought a smile to my face. I think it might even get to the right edge of the lane when being passed on the left, which is great as well.

Overall, I basically traversed the entire trip with a fully functioning BlueCruise, and it was amazing. What an upgrade.

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[MrLoganRoss]

QQ: how did you confirm you have 1.4?

 

[rugedraw]

QQ: how did you confirm you have 1.4?

He got the OTA.

 

[MrLoganRoss]

Ah. Is there an OTA number to look out for? I do get OTA periodically but not sure which one relates to 1.4, unless it says 1.4

I have a 24 and would have thought that would have been an easy and early roll out.

 

[KennyB123]

Ah. Is there an OTA number to look out for?

 

[rugedraw]

Ah. Is there an OTA number to look out for? I do get OTA periodically but not sure which one relates to 1.4, unless it says 1.4

I have a 24 and would have thought that would have been an easy and early roll out.

Right now, it is only being sent out to 2023 model year trucks.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Ah. Is there an OTA number to look out for? I do get OTA periodically but not sure which one relates to 1.4, unless it says 1.4

I have a 24 and would have thought that would have been an easy and early roll out.

Join this thread if you haven't already, MY22 owners are also patiently waiting for the flood gate to open.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...150-lightnings-starting-today-12-11-24.23222/

 

[TheBigBezo]

I also did a recent road trip with 1.4 but most of it was the hands on variant. I noticed that the truck now gives you a heads up it's going to slow for an upcoming turn. Right above the speed limit I could see a turn icon. Flip side is the truck would brake laughably early (500-1000ft) prior to the turn and release braking prior to the apex. I actually disliked it enough to hand drive the winding road I was on. Even turns that were not particularly tight it would slow excessively early. If it was tuned to brake later it would be safer in my opinion I was worried about being rear ended.

Another observation is that it does handle lanes a lot better. When I was in hands free mode I had stiff 40mph winds perpendicular to me and the truck maintained it's line really well and even shifted for a large truck overtaking. The man ahead of me in a Silverado was getting pushed over the lane divider so consider me impressed.

Lane changes take forever, I fear that the delay before initiating a pass will confuse anyone behind me. 1.4 is a huge improvement but the timing on some of these features is off a bit. I couldn't use 1.0 in a winding road because it wouldn't slow at all and now 1.4 jumps on the brakes too early so the end result is I'm still not using driver assist in that scenario.

Many improvements but a few new added oddities.

 

[astrand1]

QQ: how did you confirm you have 1.4?

If you have the lane change assist and the in lane repositioning in your settings that’s one easy way to know that you have 1.4

 

[astrand1]

I also did a recent road trip with 1.4 but most of it was the hands on variant. I noticed that the truck now gives you a heads up it's going to slow for an upcoming turn. Right above the speed limit I could see a turn icon. Flip side is the truck would brake laughably early (500-1000ft) prior to the turn and release braking prior to the apex. I actually disliked it enough to hand drive the winding road I was on. Even turns that were not particularly tight it would slow excessively early. If it was tuned to brake later it would be safer in my opinion I was worried about being rear ended.

Another observation is that it does handle lanes a lot better. When I was in hands free mode I had stiff 40mph winds perpendicular to me and the truck maintained it's line really well and even shifted for a large truck overtaking. The man ahead of me in a Silverado was getting pushed over the lane divider so consider me impressed.

Lane changes take forever, I fear that the delay before initiating a pass will confuse anyone behind me. 1.4 is a huge improvement but the timing on some of these features is off a bit. I couldn't use 1.0 in a winding road because it wouldn't slow at all and now 1.4 jumps on the brakes too early so the end result is I'm still not using driver assist in that scenario.

Many improvements but a few new added oddities.

So how I’ve dealt with the early braking for a curve is when I see it or start to feel it I just roll lightly into the accelerator pedal just enough to to keep the speed I have and then once it seems like it’s past that point I let off. It’s something I’ve had to get used to but it works.

 

[StevenC56]

If you have the lane change assist and the in lane repositioning in your settings that’s one easy way to know that you have 1.4

Has this been confirmed? My 2024 has those options, but I haven't received and BC update.

 

[Mache_Enrique]

2023 MY owner still dreaming of the 1.4 update showing up on his truck .

 

[astrand1]

Has this been confirmed? My 2024 has those options, but I haven't received and BC update.

Well the only way I can confirm it is when I was on 1.3 I did not have these options. As soon as I updated to 1.4 I did have them. There also a list that I have seen that shows what options are included with each version. If I can or someone else finds it maybe it can be posted.

 

[DemandingJay]

2023 MY owner still dreaming of the 1.4 update showing up on his truck .

Same here!

 

[Ricks Lightning]

If Ford wants to sell more BC subscriptions, they would push the 1.4 BC updates when you pay for the subscription. But most will pass on paying for subscriptions when it's still old 1.0 /1.1 technology while others already have the upgrade.

I took a 48 mile trip the other day on the 101, using just lane centering and cruise control. My 3 month free BC ran out several weeks ago. Guess what, it performed just as well as what BC was doing without all the annoying warnings that BC has turned off.

I basically had a hands on, hands off driving experience very similar to what BC 1.1 was giving me on my 24 Flash. Keep your knee or thigh with a bit of pressure on the bottom of the wheel and you have true hands free without the cost or upgrades. Sure there's no lane change assist, but with adaptive cruise, you're pretty much keeping pace with the flow.

Rick

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