New BlueCruise Version 1.4 -- Smoother, More Natural Hands-Free Highway Drive Experience (9/26/24)

[Joe.....Montana]

WAIT...Are you telling me we BC updates AND Karaoke coming SOON ™ ???

Pinch me. This is too good to be true.

I prefer to call it Caraoke...

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[Piquette]

It sounds like Bluecruise 1.4 is at least partially hardware enabled. I wonder if there will be hardware update kits so older Lightnings can take advantage of the new Bluecruise version?

 

[SnowFox]

WAIT...Are you telling me we BC updates AND Karaoke coming SOON ™ ???

Pinch me. This is too good to be true.

*Beep boop* Oncoming traffic detected. Please sing "Stop! In the name of love..." to apply brakes now...

 

[Jasper7821]

I've had my 2023 Lariat ER for 6 months and it's still on Bluecruise 1.0.
I have the 511A equipment group that says 1.0 included for 3yrs. Hoping for at least 1.2, changing lanes with the blinker would be great.
At least I finally got the battery percentage update a few days ago.

 

[ChrisCon]

I love unlabeled graphs.

 

[pkirby11]

I will add, had I not taken the advice of some of the users on this forum and gone down the FDRS route I'd be in a world of debt because I would have probably traded the truck off. But since I decided to get hardware needed I have had BC 1.3 since early summer along with b being able to get the latest UI before some with this and it has made me happier with the truck. But I still am angry at the fact that Ford promised OTA updates and has been slowly going back on all of its promises. I also do not feel I should have to be the one to update my truck like this, and while it is making my truck more fun I will not be investing in Ford in the future unless I see some big changes to my current truck. I don't care if new models get better, I want what I paid for and that was the promise of new software features through OTA and they have really under delivered. And I know, hardware evolves and improves and if BC 1.4 has a new hardware module, I understand not being able to get all the features, but it sounds like a lot of it is just software updates and those should be pushed out to previous BC owners. It's how Rivian and Tesla do it, Rivian actually just updated their autonomy hardware and have stated that any and all software changes at least will come to older models. So sure you can't get all the new features but at least you get improvements.

 

[Scorpio3d]

New Version of BlueCruise: Smoother, More Natural Hands-Free Highway Drive Experience

Sep 26, 2024 | Dearborn

By Sammy Omari, Executive Director Advanced Driver Assist System Technologies (ADAS), Ford Motor Company

We are introducing the latest version of Ford BlueCruise* software – BlueCruise 1.4 – our best, hands-free highway driving experience yet. It is designed to help deliver a more natural feeling drive and more time in hands-free mode compared to earlier versions.
We are on a journey to continue to improve the hands-free highway driving experience to keep customers engaged hands-free mode without interruptions, that would require the driver to put their hands on the wheel. BlueCruise 1.4 improves the hands-free highway drive time in a variety of driving conditions such as around a tight curve, in a narrow lane, during inclement weather or the reflection of the sun on the vehicle’s sensors.
Now, with BlueCruise 1.4 we have added:

• Enhancements that automatically and smoothly adjust the vehicle’s speed in curves, helping the driver to stay engaged in hands-free mode longer and experience a more continuous drive.
• Greater in-lane stability unlocked by an all-new motion controller, which controls the vehicle’s steering, helping reduce the ‘side-to-side’ movement within the lane.
• Longer hands-free engagement than prior versions when in diverse driving conditions due to inclement weather like rain or direct sun.

Imagine you are driving your Ford F-150 using BlueCruise on your daily commute and are coming up along a sharp curve on the highway. In prior versions, the system may have disengaged. BlueCruise 1.4 now helps adjust your truck’s speed to slow down along the curve while remaining engaged in hands-free mode. We found in our internal testing, BlueCruise 1.4 allows customers to stay engaged an average of at least eight times longer in hands-free mode compared to BlueCruise 1.0.

BlueCruise 1.4 also builds on previous versions of BlueCruise, which means users get the performance improvements plus features introduced in prior versions including Lane Change Assist allowing you to change lanes hands-free at the tap of a turn signal, and In-Lane Repositioning which helps provide more space by subtly shifting away from vehicles in adjacent lanes, giving you a little extra room.

BlueCruise 1.4 will be available on select BlueCruise-equipped 2025 Ford and Lincoln vehicles from the factory, including the 2025 Ford F-150 and 2025 Lincoln Navigator, and additional vehicles to follow. It will also roll out via a software update to select vehicle lines in the future.

Improving BlueCruise Across Vehicle Lines  

With every new version of BlueCruise, our in-house Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) team is focused on improving the hands-free highway driving experience based on feedback we receive from customers and large-scale data from BlueCruise-equipped vehicles that customers have agreed to share with us.

To-date, there are 492,000 BlueCruise-equipped vehicles on the road globally and in North America, customers have driven more than 244 million hands-free highway miles across Ford and Lincoln. The more customers use BlueCruise, the more we’re able to learn and make meaningful improvements through the power of large-scale data through our Continuous Learning Loop process to deliver new versions of software.
We are delivering new versions of BlueCruise software via software updates, as well as on vehicles from the factory across a variety of vehicle lines and engine types from gas powered, to hybrid to all electric. BlueCruise is currently available across nine vehicle lines: the F-150®, F-150 Lightning ®, Expedition ®, Explorer ® and Mustang Mach-E ®, plus the entire Lincoln lineup with some model years dating back to 2021.

Every vehicle line and each model year within a vehicle line is unique and has a specific BlueCruise software package. When delivering software updates, it is not as simple as pushing a software update to your smart phone. This is highly complex and requires updates to multiple system modules and in-vehicle screens.

That is why our goal is to always deliver the best version of software that is available for each vehicle line as it is ready, whether it is from the factory or via a software update. We will continue to move quickly to learn, develop and iterate to elevate the hands-free highway driving experience for more customers across gas-powered engines to hybrid and electric vehicles.

*Available Feature. Equipped Ford vehicles come with either a complimentary trial period or an included duration, after which purchase of a BlueCruise subscription is required. Modem activation is required for subscription purchase and for initial activation of BlueCruise (for pre-2024 model year vehicles).  See ford.com/bluecruise for details. BlueCruise is a driver-assist feature and does not replace safe driving or driver’s attention, judgment or need to control the vehicle. Only remove hands in a Hands-Free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.

I love how the graphs showing how much longer blue Cruise 1.4 stays active have nothing on the axis not sure if that would be X or Y axis just shows a longer blue line but no data points!

 

[jetfixr1]

Im going to go on a limb here and say that the all new motion controller is software and not hardware. If not, Ford did all of us dirty.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Im going to go on a limb here and say that the all new motion controller is software and not hardware. If not, Ford did all of us dirty.

And/or a major revision of what we already have on our older trucks, I'd venture a guess the old hardware can operate on the improved code.

 

[Formerly]

PM me your VIN and what the issue is. It is possible you can fix it yourself depending on what the actual problem is.

PM'd, thank you

 

[jthiesse13]

New Version of BlueCruise: Smoother, More Natural Hands-Free Highway Drive Experience

Sep 26, 2024 | Dearborn

By Sammy Omari, Executive Director Advanced Driver Assist System Technologies (ADAS), Ford Motor Company

We are introducing the latest version of Ford BlueCruise* software – BlueCruise 1.4 – our best, hands-free highway driving experience yet. It is designed to help deliver a more natural feeling drive and more time in hands-free mode compared to earlier versions.
We are on a journey to continue to improve the hands-free highway driving experience to keep customers engaged hands-free mode without interruptions, that would require the driver to put their hands on the wheel. BlueCruise 1.4 improves the hands-free highway drive time in a variety of driving conditions such as around a tight curve, in a narrow lane, during inclement weather or the reflection of the sun on the vehicle’s sensors.
Now, with BlueCruise 1.4 we have added:

• Enhancements that automatically and smoothly adjust the vehicle’s speed in curves, helping the driver to stay engaged in hands-free mode longer and experience a more continuous drive.
• Greater in-lane stability unlocked by an all-new motion controller, which controls the vehicle’s steering, helping reduce the ‘side-to-side’ movement within the lane.
• Longer hands-free engagement than prior versions when in diverse driving conditions due to inclement weather like rain or direct sun.

Imagine you are driving your Ford F-150 using BlueCruise on your daily commute and are coming up along a sharp curve on the highway. In prior versions, the system may have disengaged. BlueCruise 1.4 now helps adjust your truck’s speed to slow down along the curve while remaining engaged in hands-free mode. We found in our internal testing, BlueCruise 1.4 allows customers to stay engaged an average of at least eight times longer in hands-free mode compared to BlueCruise 1.0.

BlueCruise 1.4 also builds on previous versions of BlueCruise, which means users get the performance improvements plus features introduced in prior versions including Lane Change Assist allowing you to change lanes hands-free at the tap of a turn signal, and In-Lane Repositioning which helps provide more space by subtly shifting away from vehicles in adjacent lanes, giving you a little extra room.

BlueCruise 1.4 will be available on select BlueCruise-equipped 2025 Ford and Lincoln vehicles from the factory, including the 2025 Ford F-150 and 2025 Lincoln Navigator, and additional vehicles to follow. It will also roll out via a software update to select vehicle lines in the future.

Improving BlueCruise Across Vehicle Lines  

With every new version of BlueCruise, our in-house Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) team is focused on improving the hands-free highway driving experience based on feedback we receive from customers and large-scale data from BlueCruise-equipped vehicles that customers have agreed to share with us.

To-date, there are 492,000 BlueCruise-equipped vehicles on the road globally and in North America, customers have driven more than 244 million hands-free highway miles across Ford and Lincoln. The more customers use BlueCruise, the more we’re able to learn and make meaningful improvements through the power of large-scale data through our Continuous Learning Loop process to deliver new versions of software.
We are delivering new versions of BlueCruise software via software updates, as well as on vehicles from the factory across a variety of vehicle lines and engine types from gas powered, to hybrid to all electric. BlueCruise is currently available across nine vehicle lines: the F-150®, F-150 Lightning ®, Expedition ®, Explorer ® and Mustang Mach-E ®, plus the entire Lincoln lineup with some model years dating back to 2021.

Every vehicle line and each model year within a vehicle line is unique and has a specific BlueCruise software package. When delivering software updates, it is not as simple as pushing a software update to your smart phone. This is highly complex and requires updates to multiple system modules and in-vehicle screens.

That is why our goal is to always deliver the best version of software that is available for each vehicle line as it is ready, whether it is from the factory or via a software update. We will continue to move quickly to learn, develop and iterate to elevate the hands-free highway driving experience for more customers across gas-powered engines to hybrid and electric vehicles.

*Available Feature. Equipped Ford vehicles come with either a complimentary trial period or an included duration, after which purchase of a BlueCruise subscription is required. Modem activation is required for subscription purchase and for initial activation of BlueCruise (for pre-2024 model year vehicles).  See ford.com/bluecruise for details. BlueCruise is a driver-assist feature and does not replace safe driving or driver’s attention, judgment or need to control the vehicle. Only remove hands in a Hands-Free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.

That all sounds great, but most of us won't get it until after our 3 year "trial" expires. Why don't you roll this out to everyone now??

 

[Lytning]

OK, GREAT A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BLUE CRUISE AND YET NO ONE CAN GET THE DAMN THING.
I HAVE HAD 1.0 BC SINCE DAY 1 ON MY22 LARIAT SR. MY TRUCK CAME WITH 3 YEARS OF BC FOR AN EXTRA $2000 THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE PRICE OF THE TRUCK. wHY CANT FORD JUST HAVE THE DEALERS DO THE UPDATE THROUGH FDRS FOR US AND BE DONE ALREADY GEEZ!

@Ford Motor Company, I want my $2000 back. The system in my Lightning is worth less than $0 to me. I would be pulled over by a State Trooper for DUI if I used it.

 

[duncanmaio]

Im going to go on a limb here and say that the all new motion controller is software and not hardware. If not, Ford did all of us dirty.

Newer trucks might have improved hardware, but the new software works just fine on '22 trucks. It does a lot more than the old version, and does some things - especially lane centering - better. I don't particularly like the way it slows for curves, off-ramps, etc., but I very much like that it does that. And it covers more highway with more extreme curves and more continuous coverage, at least in the Greater Boston/New England area. Stop-and-go traffic performance seems better, too.

I use BlueCruise almost all the time and drive hands-free half the time. When my subscription is up next June, I will be cheerfully paying for the service for as long as I own the truck. But it will be pushing 100K by then, so who knows.

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

I would rather have the lane changing with BC instead of Kareoke. What about the pet update to keep my truck on longer than 15 min? 1 hr would be nice. How about that Ford

Agree…
For now our workaround is turning off the shutdown timer manually as needed.

 

[ChrisCon]

I will add, had I not taken the advice of some of the users on this forum and gone down the FDRS route I'd be in a world of debt because I would have probably traded the truck off.

FDRS - "Keeping Early Adopters Happy since 2022"

When I try to explain to my friends that I paid $1300+ (mongoose + 1 year+ license) to have Karaoke in my car (which I hate) they think I'm insane, but "early adopters be adopting". . Ford should send this out to everyone with the NACS adaptors until they figure out OTA .

Also, I absolutely fired up my laptop after reading this advertisement hoping, 1.4 would be there for me.

1 other thing regarding Bluecruise hardware versus software - My wife's 2025 explorer ( a meme) is running 1.2 and anecdotally it handles parts of the highway we live near better than my truck running 1.2 . There are 2 disengagement areas where her explorer does reliably stay engaged . Also, I absolutely love her infotainment system. I'm going to do a review here on it as compared to ours. Spoiler alert: no lag.

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