Ford has introduced the latest version of its hands-free driving software, BlueCruise 1.4, promising significant advancements in autonomous driving capabilities. According to the automaker, BlueCruise 1.4 will allow drivers to keep their hands off the wheel for double the duration compared to the previous 1.3 version, and five times longer than version 1.2, which debuted last year. While Ford hasn’t provided an exact measure of how long the system can operate hands-free, the improvements mark a major step forward in driver-assistance technology.
The enhancements in BlueCruise 1.4 stem from new “motion controller” software that improves vehicle centering within lanes while also enhancing performance in adverse weather conditions, sharp curves, narrow lanes, and sunlight glare. These upgrades are designed to offer a smoother and more reliable hands-free driving experience in a wider variety of road conditions.
For reference, a recent test of BlueCruise 1.2 in a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus already demonstrated solid performance on tight curves. However, the system did prompt the driver to regain manual control during sudden rainfall, highlighting the potential value of BlueCruise 1.4’s enhanced weather handling.
According to Ford PR representative Whitney Pineda, the updated BlueCruise software will first be available on the 2025 Ford F-150 and the 2025 Lincoln Navigator. It will also be rolled out to other Ford vehicles through over-the-air (OTA) updates, though specific models have yet to be confirmed.
Consumer Reports recently ranked BlueCruise as the leading advanced driver-assistance system on the market, outperforming both GM’s Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot. With 492,000 BlueCruise-equipped vehicles already on the road globally, Ford’s latest update further solidifies its position in the competitive autonomous driving landscape.
