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Ford BlueCruise 146  Brings You Hands-Free Highway Driving

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BlueCruise 146  and You

Help reduce stress on your ride

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Technology that drives confidence.

Operates on 97% of Controlled-Access Highways across North America

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BlueCruise 147  Hands-Free Blue Zone Map

Bluecruise 147  is available on select 2023+ vehicles with sync.

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BlueCruise is Hands-Free Highway Driving

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Ford BlueCruise 127 is a Hands-Free driving assistance feature designed to help make driving easier, more enjoyable, and less stressful.

Take the stress out of driving, not the fun.

Top-Rated Technology

Read the Article

Schedule a Test Drive & Try it for Yourself 

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How Does BlueCruise Work?

Step 1 welcome to the blue zone.

When you enter a pre-qualified section of a divided highway — a Blue Zone — you’ll see a prompt on the instrument cluster letting you know BlueCruise is available and ready to assist.

Step 2 Let BlueCruise Assist

Simply tap the Adaptive Cruise Control button on your steering wheel and let BlueCruise assist, while keeping your eyes on the road. The system helps handle steering, keeps you centered in your lane, and adjusts your speed as needed — all without you ever touching the wheel. Designed with driver collaboration in mind, you can always take over and steer manually within the lane without BlueCruise disengaging.

Step 3 Feel the Magic of Letting Go

• Driver Facing Camera    

360° Perception

Connected maps.

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Real drivers, real delight., “ coming from a previous tesla owner, in the autopilot…you’re constantly nudging that wheel. and that's where i was blown away by the bluecruise, because it's literally hands-free.”.

Mother of five, current Mustang Mach-E ® owner

“ I can take a few moments and not be fully tunnel visioned on the road. That really is a life improvement.”

Current F-150 Lightning® owner

Hands-Free. Less Stress.

A More Relaxed Rush Hour.

Commuting Made Easy.

Ford BlueCruise Remains the Consumer Reports Top-Rated Active Driving Assistance System.*

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BlueCruise Access that Fits Your Needs. Don’t Take Our Word for It — Experience the Magic for Yourself.

At vehicle order or purchase options, $2,100/ 3 years, $700/ 1 year, post trial 
subscription options.

2024 and 2025 model year vehicles equipped with BlueCruise come with a 90-day complimentary trial period, starting with your vehicle's warranty start date. After the trial, you can choose to purchase BlueCruise monthly or annually based on your needs.

*Pricing Is Subject To Change

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How much does BlueCruise cost?

Ford vehicles equipped with Ford BlueCruise come with either a 90-day complimentary trial period, or an included connected service plan duration, starting from your vehicle's warranty start date.

Starting with the 2023 model year Mustang Mach-E produced after June 30, 2023, and for all 2024 model year vehicles equipped with BlueCruise, you have the option to purchase three years of BlueCruise access for $2,100 when you buy the vehicle or you will receive a 90-day complimentary trial. For all 2025 model year vehicles equipped with BlueCruise, you have the option to purchase one year of BlueCruise access for $700 when you buy the vehicle. At the end of the initial complimentary trial or included plan duration, you can choose to purchase an annual plan, currently available for $800, or a monthly plan for $75 per month.

Pricing is subject to change.

To purchase a BlueCruise subscription after a complimentary trial expires, visit the Connected Services tile on your Ford Account. An active subscription is required to use BlueCruise.

How do I use BlueCruise?

Watch the 'how to' video here

One-time setup:

• Download the FordPass® App and add your VIN

• Activate your FordPass Connect modem on your vehicle’s center screen display

• In the vehicle’s center screen display, turn on Lane Centering with Hands-Free,  Select settings icon > Driver Assistance > Adaptive Cruise Control > Lane Centering with Hands-Free

Once you’re on the road:

• Drive hands-free with your eyes on the road

 To confirm you’ve got the newest features active, check your in-vehicle settings:

For SYNC® 4* (With BlueCruise 1.2 or higher):

Select Features > Driver Assistance > Cruise Control > Lane Centering, then toggle on  In-Lane Repositioning and Lane Change Assist.

For SYNC 4A* (With BlueCruise 1.2 or higher):

Select Driver Assistance > Cruise Control > Lane Centering, then toggle on In-Lane Repositioning and Lane Change Assist.

*Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones.

How do I know if my vehicle has Ford BlueCruise?

What’s the difference between bluecruise versions 1.0, 1.2, and 1.3.

BlueCruise 1.0 – Builds on available Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Centering to add hands-free driving capabilities on prequalified sections of divided highways called hands-free Blue Zones.

BlueCruise 1.2 – Adds new features including In-Lane Repositioning (which can give you more space by subtly shifting away from vehicles in adjacent lanes) and Lane Change Assist (tapping your turn signal to initiate a hands-free lane change).

BlueCruise 1.3 – Helps you stay engaged longer in hands-free mode by improving performance, with greater ability to navigate narrow lanes and curves.

What’s the difference between BlueCruise and Ford-CoPilot360® Technology?

How do i know which bluecruise version is available on my ford vehicle.

The BlueCruise version available on your Ford vehicle is based on your model, year, and trim as shown in the chart below:*

*Model Year 2021 vehicles with the BlueCruise Prep Package known as Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 did not ship from the factory with BlueCruise software activated, they receive the software update separately. If you are unsure of what model you have and which pricing you are eligible for, you can contact the Ford Customer Service Center at (800) 392-3673.

How do I know which version of BlueCruise my vehicle has currently?

To see which Ford Power-Up software update you currently have, go to the SYNC® screen in your vehicle — go to Settings and select Software Updates. The Update Details section will include the latest Ford Power-Up software update that your vehicle has received.

Vehicles eligible for newer versions of BlueCruise will receive those updates via Ford Power-Up software updates on a rolling basis. The table outlines which Ford Power-Up software update delivers the corresponding version of BlueCruise. If you do not see your vehicle listed here, that means it isn't yet eligible to receive an updated version of BlueCruise. 

To make sure you are able to receive the latest Software Updates, turn ON Automatic Updates and set a recurring schedule for a time that your vehicle is typically parked (like overnight). Visit our Ford Power-Up software updates page for more details.

*Your vehicle may continue to get Software Updates unrelated to BlueCruise, so depending on where you are in your Software Update sequence, this number may be greater than what you see in the chart. We will update the chart to reflect future BlueCruise version updates as they become available.

When will I get the next version of BlueCruise?

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Ford Blue Cruise, your new driving assistant

Autonomous driving is not yet a reality. The day when your vehicle will drive itself is not here yet. But more and more driving assistants are allowing you to enjoy a safer ride. That’s the case with Ford’s latest technology, the Blue Cruise system.  Blue Cruise is a system that allows you to have your hands free while driving your Ford.

Be careful though, you have to stay alert, and the system is only available on previously registered roads. This is not insignificant since the network covers more than 300,000 kilometres, crossing Canada and the United States and even including some of Canada’s national parks.

A cutting-edge technology

To navigate, the Blue Cruise system uses cameras and radar detection.  Building on the existing Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and go, lane centering and speed sign recognition, Blue Cruise will allow the driver to drive hands-free.

However, the system will only activate on sections of divided highways pre-qualified for the “hands-free blue zone.” Obviously, this mapping will be extended to other roads over time.

When you’re behind the wheel, you don’t have to wonder for long if Blue Cruise can be activated.  The system uses a blue light on the digital instrument cluster to indicate when the vehicle is in a hands-free zone.

Unlike other systems, the dashboard indicates that the feature is in hands-free mode with text and blue light signals that are effective even for colour-blind drivers. A visual message on the dashboard alerts the driver when he or she needs to return attention to the road and/or regain control of the vehicle.

Easy to use

The Blue Cruise system, while a marvel of technology, doesn’t require much driver knowledge.  It is activated like a conventional cruise control system.  All you have to do is press a button on the steering wheel. The selected speed can be increased or decreased in increments using plus/minus buttons, and it can be deactivated by pressing the brake and then resumed by another button. It also lets you choose how much distance you want to maintain from the vehicle in front of you.

But what sets it apart is  its ability to take control of steering and keep you centered in your lane as long as its cameras can clearly see lane markers on a pre-qualified highway – and as long as you’re paying attention . A camera in the instrument cluster watches your eyes to make sure they stay on the road.

No need to get absorbed in reading your favourite newspaper. Safety first! The proof is that if you’re  too engrossed in your infotainment screen or your passenger, and you turn your head too long, your Ford will give you a warning . Visually first, then with a sound. If you choose to ignore it, Blue Cruise will raise the tone, increase the volume of the alarm and eventually deactivate itself.

And Blue Cruise is effective in all road conditions. A dozen Ford vehicles went on a real rally across America, in all conditions, to test it. Even in the cold and snow!

Blue Cruise won’t really drive your car for you. But it will undoubtedly be a pleasant companion for long rides while guaranteeing the safety of your family.

Discover other Ford Technologies

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Ford BlueCruise Removes the Hands from Highway Driving

We try out Ford's new hands-free system, a competitor to GM's Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot. It's available on some 2022 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E models.

Long story short: it works as advertised. Ford isn't promising commuters the chance to catch up on Instagram on their drive to work. But it is giving drivers the chance to lessen fatigue on the slog that is many Americans' rush-hour drive home. BlueCruise may be able to keep the car in a lane and a safe distance from traffic in front, but that doesn't mean it is driving. The driver still needs to pay attention and be ready to resume control if any number of virtually infinite possibilities arise that the computer can't compute.

BlueCruise, much like Super Cruise, is geofenced and limited to divided highways. Ford calls them Blue Zones, but know that it includes over 100,000 miles in all 50 states and southern Canada. Activate adaptive cruise control and BlueCruise takes over once it has a good sense of its surroundings. Ford leveraged the digital instrument cluster to totally change its appearance when BlueCruise is active. This is one of the best uses of a digital cluster, and it avoids any confusion. There's a camera and two infrared light emitters in the cabin to keep track of what you're keeping track of. If your eyes wander too long from the task at hand, which is driving, BlueCruise will shut down.

The system worked great for us. Only when we wore a mask and sunglasses did BlueCruise think we weren't paying enough attention. In addition to tracking eyes, the camera tracks the whole face. (We had a minder from Ford in the car with us and we were trying to be respectful.) Once we removed the mask, there wasn't a single warning to pay better attention.

We got to sample the Level 2 autonomy system in Dearborn, Michigan, while behind the wheel of an F-150. The camera and dual IR emitters are totally integrated with the pickup's dash. In the Mach-E, however, there is a camera wart on the steering column. There is no relative limit as to what speed you can set BlueCruise to maintain. We didn't confirm that the F-150 could achieve it, but we did set the system to 106 mph while cruising at 55 mph behind a tractor-trailer on the Southfield Freeway. We're guessing the top speed of the pickup is 106 mph.

If you have a 2021 F-150 or Mach-E with the ADA prep pack, you can pay a one-time $600 fee to upgrade your car to BlueCruise spec. This can be done over the air or at a dealership. Another over-the-air update—Ford calls them Power-Ups—that includes an automated lane-change feature will roll out at some point in the near future. For now, drivers will have to signal and initiate the lane change themselves.

This is just one step of many more that need to happen on the path to full autonomy. Ford is confident it will be put more than 100,000 BlueCruise-equipped cars on the road in the next year.

K.C. Colwell is Car and Driver' s executive editor, who covers new cars and technology with a keen eye for automotive nonsense and with what he considers to be great car sense, which is a humblebrag. On his first day at C/D in 2004, he was given the keys to a Porsche 911 by someone who didn't even know if he had a driver's license. He also is one of the drivers who set fast laps at C/D 's annual Lightning Lap track test.

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Ford BlueCruise First Drive Review | Works as advertised, hands-down

It will be available later this year.

Ford announced a few months ago that it would start offering a hands-free highway driving assist later this year. It's clearly a direct competitor to the only other hands-free system on the market, GM's Super Cruise. As part of the over-100,000-mile real-world test trip that the company has been conducting before the release, it invited journalists, including yours truly, to try BlueCruise out in the test vehicles along some stretches of Michigan highway. Turns out it works quite well, certainly well enough to be a solid option to the current basic version of Super Cruise.

BlueCruise works very similarly to Super Cruise both in how it manages the vehicle and driver, as well as how to activate it. The car is guided by a combination of radar, camera and GPS position information. These all help keep the car in the lines, at a safe position compared to other cars, and also ensure that the system is only being used on roads with mapping data. Currently, more than 100,000 miles of highway in the U.S. and Canada have been mapped and are compatible with BlueCruise.

Inside, there are infrared sensors and a camera that monitor the driver's head position and eyes. They allow some leeway, but if a driver is looking away too far or for too long, the car will alert the driver to pay attention to the road again. And to activate the system, the driver simply has to turn on the cruise control. As long as the lane-centering functions are turned on, the car will automatically go to hands-free if it's centered on a compatible road. If you don't want to use the function, switching off the lane-centering systems will switch it to basic adaptive control.

All of the activity and alerts are communicated to the driver through the instrument display, which reconfigures, says the car is hands-free and turns a shade of blue to indicate that BlueCruise is active. It's a bit different and slightly more discreet than the GM system, which also includes a steering wheel with a large light indicator at the top as an additional status monitor to display symbols and messages.

But the key thing is, does it work? Yessir, and it does so quite well. The car stays well-centered, and does so quickly. Even in highway bends, it doesn't wander or get too close to either side. It reacts promptly to said bends, too. As such, once you get over the inherent strangeness of taking your hands off the wheel at 70 mph, it feels comfortable and safe to use in most situations. In particularly busy, fast-paced and aggressive traffic, you may want to consider not going hands-free simply so that you can intervene more quickly and naturally in an emergency or for an unexpected exit. But we would say the same for Super Cruise. In most highway driving circumstances, we would feel at ease (but still aware and engaged) using BlueCruise just as we would with the GM system.

Worth noting is that both BlueCruise and Super Cruise will be evolving from their current versions. Ford is developing on-demand automated lane changes that would be activated with a tap of the turn signal stalk. GM already offers the on-demand system on more premium Super Cruise cars , but will soon enable the car to automatically execute changes upon coming up on a slower-moving vehicle. GM will also allow you to use Super Cruise when towing . We've tried out a version of this system and were impressed. Considering how BlueCruise works, it will probably also have solid lane-change capabilities.

If you'd like hands-free driving in your Ford, you'll have to make sure you get either an F-150 or a Mustang Mach-E . The feature will be available later this year, but you can buy one of those models with the hardware necessary to use BlueCruise right now. Once the system is available, it can be downloaded over-the-air. The software for both models is $600, but the hardware can cost a bit more, as it's included as part of the Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0. The latter is offered as its own $995 option on the F-150 Lariat, King Ranch or Platinum. It's standard on the Limited. In the Mach-E, you'll spend $2,600 to get the hardware as part of the Comfort and Technology package, or standard on the CA Route 1, Premium and First Edition Mach-Es. And for clarity, those prices are without the BlueCruise software, which is an additional $600.

Related Video:

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Lincoln BlueCruise *

HOW LINCOLN BLUECRUISE WORKS

• Hands-Free Highway Driving Technology</div> " }" data-fd-metrics-open="{"id":"action0018","app":"Brand","variables":{"onclick_onclickLinkName":"{($sitePrefix)}:bluecruise:lp:content:action","onclick_onclick":"bluecruise:lp:content:accordion:hands-free highway driving technology"}}"> Hands-Free Highway Driving Technology Lincoln BlueCruise † allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel while keeping their eyes on the road on certain roadways, while the system accelerates, brakes and steers the vehicle in the lane. The system uses a driver-facing camera to ensure that the driver is paying attention to the roadway while the system is actively providing support.
• Blue Zone Indication</div> " }" data-fd-metrics-open="{"id":"action0018","app":"Brand","variables":{"onclick_onclickLinkName":"{($sitePrefix)}:bluecruise:lp:content:action","onclick_onclick":"bluecruise:lp:content:accordion:blue zone indication"}}"> Blue Zone Indication When activated, a mode indicator in the display cluster will show a graphic of a steering wheel with the text “Hands-Free” when it’s safe to remove your hands from the steering wheel, then indicate when you need to put your hands back on the steering wheel to take control. † ††
• Attentive Driving Alerts An infrared driver-facing camera will track eye gaze and head position to ensure drivers are paying attention to the road while in Hands-Free Mode. Drivers will be notified by visual prompts on their instrument cluster when they need to resume control of the vehicle. † ††

† BlueCruise requires a Connected Service plan that provides regular map updates, Lincoln Way® app, and modem activation. Lincoln BlueCruise-equipped vehicles come with either a 90-day trial or a 2- or 4-year BlueCruise Connected Service plan, after which purchase is required. See your retailer to confirm BlueCruise Connected Service plan options for your vehicle. Owners, see the Connected Services section of your Lincoln Account for your BlueCruise Connected Service plan status. Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment and need to control the vehicle. Lincoln BlueCruise is a hands-free highway driving feature. Only remove hands from the steering wheel when in a Hands-Free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control of the vehicle. It does not replace safe driving. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.

†† U.S. Model Shown.

2024 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

STANDARD FEATURE ON ALL NAVIGATOR MODELS This vehicle has standard Lincoln BlueCruise ‡‡ hands-free highway driver-assist technology that allows you to operate your Navigator hands-free, while keeping your eyes on the road.

2024 LINCOLN CORSAIR

AVAILABLE ON SELECT CORSAIR MODELS The ultimate upgrade in technology comes with available Lincoln BlueCruise 1.2 ‡‡ , which gives you the power to drive hands-free on the highway with your eyes on the road, along with the added convenience of Lane Change Assist and In-Lane Repositioning.

2024 LINCOLN NAUTILUS ‡

AVAILABLE ON 2024 LINCOLN NAUTILUS RESERVE Lincoln BlueCruise 1.2 ‡‡ technology allows you to operate your Nautilus hands-free with your eyes on the road on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones.

2023 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

STANDARD FEATURE ON ALL NAVIGATOR MODELS Lincoln BlueCruise ‡‡ technology allows you to operate your Navigator hands-free with your eyes on the road on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones.

2023 LINCOLN CORSAIR

AVAILABLE ON SELECT CORSAIR MODELS Lincoln BlueCruise ‡‡ 1.2 provides a hands-free highway driving experience along with the added convenience of Lane Change Assist and In-Lane Repositioning.

HANDS-FREE BLUE ZONES

Lincoln co-pilot360™ 2.1.

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Pocket-lint

What is ford bluecruise, how does it work and what's it like to drive with.

A step closer to self-driving cars. But how does Ford's autonomous system actually work?

Ford BlueCruise is a driver assistance system. Launched originally in the US and Canada in 2021, the system has enabled over 68 million miles of hands-free driving, on over 193,000 vehicles. It's also now spreading its wings outside North America, coming to the UK in 2023 - and being the first such system to get regulatory approval for use hands-off driving on the UK's roads.

So is a car with BlueCruise a self-driving car?

"Self-driving" is a term that's popular, but it's a term we need to be careful using. Technically, BlueCruise enables Level 2 hands-free driving. It's a driver assistance system, rather than being about the car driving itself. You still need to be in control of the car and you need to keep your eyes on the road, even if your hands can be off the wheel.

Level 2 refers to the level of autonomy the car can achieve, based on a system devised by the Society of Automotive Engineers . When someone refers to autonomy levels, this is what they are talking about. Level 2 isn't new because it covers a range of functions, technically that the car has systems that can handle all aspects of driving: steering, acceleration and braking. But importantly, the driver has to be able to intervene at any moment.

Isn't this the same as Tesla Autopilot?

Yes and no. Tesla Autopilot is a similar driver assistance system that will do many of the things that Ford BlueCruise will, but the important difference for those in the UK is that Ford has received regulatory approval in the UK for hands-off driving, whereas Tesla has not.

If you're in the US or Canada, however, then yes, BlueCruise is basically the same. In 2023 models that includes automated lane changing - another feature that Tesla is known for. However, for those in the UK, lane changing is not currently offered, you still have to do that manually.

How does Ford BlueCruise work?

BlueCruise is an extension of a number of existing systems that Ford already offers. The most important parts are adaptive cruise control and the lane-keeping assistant. Both of these will be familiar to drivers of recent vehicles, with adaptive cruise control managing the vehicle's speed and distance from the vehicle in front, while the lane-keeping keeps the car between the lines.

Both of these are critical, because from those systems, the car knows what's happening on the road. Being able to see the lines is critical to BlueCruise so it can steer the car and keep it in the correct position on the road, while adaptive cruise control keeps a safe distance from the car in front, while maintaining the correct speed for that road.

Yes, it can read the speed limit from road signs and adjust accordingly, but BlueCruise will work at speeds up to 80mph in the UK - not that you'll ever be driving that fast, of course. Like other cruise control systems, you can knock the speed up or down to your preference, just as you can adjust the distance it will keep from the vehicle in front.

By pulling these systems together the car can take over the controls and you can take your hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals, but you need to stay attentive to the road: there's a camera that monitors your head position and your eyes, so if you look away from the road for an extended period, or close your eyes, it will give you a warning to bring your attention back to the road. Beyond that, warnings escalate and if you fail to respond, the car will start to slow to a safe stop. Essentially, you need to stay in control of the car, with your attention to the road. However, if something happens to the driver, the car will bring itself to a safe stop.

Can I use BlueCruise on all roads?

No you can't. The system uses GPS geofencing defining what Ford calls Blue Zones. When you're in a Blue Zone, the system will be available and if you have cruise control activated, it will offer to switch to BlueCruise. In the UK, the Blue Zones cover over 2200 miles, which is the entire motorway network - basically, if it's a road starting with an M, you'll be able to use BlueCruise.

Ford said it's going to be expanding this to include other roads in the UK and that's likely to include A roads that behave more like motorways.

In the US, over 130,000 miles of highways are within the Blue Zones.

How to engage Ford BlueCruise

BlueCruise is a really automated system, so you don't have to think about whether you're going to use it specifically. In reality, you'll engage cruise control and if you're in a Blue Zone and the conditions are met, BlueCruise will be offered to you automatically. But here's a step-by-step of what you need to do:

• Make sure you're on a Blue Zone road: the lines need to be clearly visible.
• Engage cruise control with a press of the steering wheel button.
• Cruise control will turn on at the speed you're travelling when you press the button.
• The driver display will show a blue balloon indicating that BlueCruise is available, you can press OK on the steering wheel.
• You'll get a message that you can take your hands off the wheel.

That's all there is to it. If, for whatever reason, BlueCruise cannot operate - if you're not in a Blue Zone or if the lines are clearly visible - then you'll remain in regular cruise control and have to keep your hands on the wheel.

What's it like driving with Ford BlueCruise?

We tested Ford BlueCruise in the UK at launch in the Mustang Mach-E . It's a system that's incredibly easy to use as we've detailed above. Once on the motorway, all it takes is a tap of the cruise control button and when BlueCruise was ready - a couple of seconds later - we were free to take our hands off the wheel.

At first this is a little alien, but this isn't the first time we've used such systems. Indeed, if you've taken your hands off the wheel when using some of the existing systems you'll know what it's like. We found the Mach-E reliably stayed in lane, steered smoothly around bends and adjusted speed to keep in position behind other vehicles. The advantage of using a system like this is you can relax a little more on longer journeys. If you're tired, it's an additional safety measure and over long drives, you'll find that something like BlueCruise is an additional measure to keep you safely on the road. Technically, you can't do anything else that distracts you from the road, so you can't legally use your phone or read a book, so you might find that you're left wondering what to do with your hands.

It's not hugely different in experience to the likes of Nissan ProPilot or BMW's Level 2+ system - or indeed Tesla Autopilot, but the omission of lane changing in the UK seems strange. It's offered by Tesla and Mercedes in the UK, for example, so why not Ford? The big difference in experience for UK drivers is that this is the only system you're allowed to legally use without your hands off the wheel. We suspect others will follow soon, but in the short term, Ford has something of a victory on its hands.

What cars will I be able to get BlueCruise on?

The Mustang Mach-E is the headline model for Ford BlueCruise. That was the original launch model in North America and it's the launch model in the UK. In the UK, it's available on 2023 models, so that's any built after November 2022.

In the US, it's also available on the Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford Expedition. There's a similar system available from Lincoln called Lincoln ActiveGlide, which is available on the Lincoln Corsair.

How do I get Ford BlueCruise?

BlueCruise is a subscription option. If you buy a new Mustang Mach-E, you'll get a 90-day trial in the UK, after which you'll have to subscribe for £17.99 a month through the Ford Pass app. You'll be able to subscibe month by month too, so if you only want it for the holidays, for example, you can just subscribe at that time.

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• Following 805,000 kilometres of development testing, Ford embarked on a 177,000-kilometre “Mother of All Road Trips” across the United States and Canada to prove out BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology in a wide range of driving and weather conditions
• 2021 Ford F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with the available Ford Co-Pilot360 ™ Active 2.0 Prep Package can receive BlueCruise later this year through over-the-air software update.
• BlueCruise will give drivers the comfort and confidence of hands-free driving on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones that make up more than 160,000 kilometres of North American roads
• Additional Ford vehicles to receive BlueCruise technology in coming years as Ford continues to add additional highways and deliver new hands-free driving capabilities to F-150, Mustang Mach-E and more

DEARBORN, Mich., April 14, 2021 – Ford will begin offering its new BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system to customers later this year after 805,000 kilometres of development testing and fine-tuning the technology on a journey across the United States and Canada.

Last year, Ford sent a fleet of 10 test vehicles – five F-150 pickups and five all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs – to complete what test drivers dubbed the “Mother of All Road Trips.” The trek covered more than 177,000 kilometres through 37 states and five Canadian provinces to challenge BlueCruise against a wide range of road, weather and traffic conditions.

“There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product platform and operations officer. “Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent.”  

Via over-the-air software updates, BlueCruise will be offered later this year on 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E models equipped with the available Ford Co-Pilot360 ™ Active 2.0 Prep Package. Over-the-air software updates allow owners of select Ford vehicles to update software from the convenience of their own garage.

Ford is targeting to sell more than 100,000 vehicles equipped with BlueCruise in the first year, based on company sales and take-rate projections.

Mother of All Road Trips becomes the ultimate Ford test drive

All 10 test vehicles – one departing from Palo Alto, California, the others from Dearborn, Michigan – spent much of last November and December winding their way across the United States and Canada. Test drivers searched for every conceivable road condition and highway driving scenario, monitoring the system’s performance, collecting data and highlighting areas where improvements could be made.

The trip marked the final leg of a development process that ran up more than 800,000 kilometres in a series of shorter test drives, each designed to evaluate a specific aspect of BlueCruise. As real-world validation of those earlier tests, road trip enabled the system to scan for variances in road signage, lane markings, exit ramps, traffic patterns and weather.

“I drive long-distance quite often, whether out to Boston or down to Florida to visit family or friends, and usually I mentally tire out on drives that far,” said Alexandra Taylor, BlueCruise feature development engineer, who logged more than 4,800 kilometres in an F-150 on the trek. “The one thing that became clear is that, when using BlueCruise, long drives aren’t nearly as mentally taxing to me.”

Taylor and fellow BlueCruise engineer Shruti Gotadki set out on an eight-day journey that wound through the southeast United States, targeting driving differences between Jacksonville, Louisville, Atlanta and other major urban areas.

Back at the Ford lab, driver-assist technology supervisor Justin Teems monitored the progress of the entire fleet, corralling important data that will help shape BlueCruise driving experience in the months and years ahead.

“It was like mission control,” Teems said. “We really wanted to push BlueCruise to its limits. Every state builds roads a little differently. When you include factors like lane line degradation, weather and construction, building a hands-free driving system becomes extremely complex. Those complexities are why Ford has the best team of engineers in the world working on it.”

BlueCruise, the evolution of Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology

Using both advanced camera and radar-sensing technologies and building upon Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering and Speed Sign Recognition, BlueCruise adds a new level of convenience for drivers with vehicles equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology. The feature allows a driver to operate truly hands-free on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones. A driver-facing camera in the instrument cluster monitors eye gaze and head position to help ensure the driver’s eyes remain on the road.

Currently, more than 160,000 kilometres of highways across North America are dedicated Hands-Free Blue Zones in the Ford GPS mapping system. BlueCruise uses blue lighting on the digital instrument cluster to indicate when the vehicle is in a hands-free zone.

In addition to the full hands-free mode, equipped vehicles will also feature Lane Centering mode. Lane Centering works on most roads with lane lines and can help keep the vehicle centred in its lane but requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel. In either mode, a visual prompt on the instrument cluster notifies drivers when they need to return their attention to the road or resume control of the vehicle.

BlueCruise is an SAE Level 2 driver-assist technology, similar to Tesla Autopilot but with the advantage of offering a true hands-free driving experience while in Hands-Free Mode that does not require a driver’s hands to stay in contact with the steering wheel, unless prompted by vehicle alerts.

And unlike other approaches – such as GM’s Super Cruise, which uses red and green lighting, or Tesla’s Autopilot, which requires a driver keep their hands on the steering wheel – BlueCruise communicates with drivers in different ways. The instrument cluster transitions to communicate that the feature is in Hands-Free mode through text and blue lighting cues, effective even for those with colour blindness.

More highways and features to come

Beyond the 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E, additional Ford vehicles will also receive BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, while current owners continue to receive over-the-air software updates to add new features and capabilities in the coming years.

Future enhancements are planned to include Lane Change Assist that will let the vehicle change lanes with just a tap of the turn signal indicator, and Predictive Speed Assist that will adjust vehicle speed for road curves, roundabouts and more.

Ford also plans to offer regular mapping updates for the technology to recognize changes plus thousands of kilometres of planned new road additions.

Affordable hands-free highway driving technology

2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E customers will be able to purchase BlueCruise software – plus a three-year service period – for $750 in the second half of 2021, when it’s ready to launch. Hardware pricing varies by vehicle.

For F-150, BlueCruise is available as a part of the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package for a total price of $2,100– $750 for the software and $1350 for the hardware. The Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package is standard on F-150 Platinum and Limited and available as an option on Lariat and King Ranch models.

For Mustang Mach-E, BlueCruise comes standard on CA Route 1, Premium and First Edition variants. It’s an available package on the Select trim for $4140 – $750 for the software and $3,390 for the rest of the package –as part of the larger Comfort and Technology package, which includes features such as a 360-degree camera, heated front seats and heated steering wheel

Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment and need to control the vehicle. BlueCruise is a hands-free highway driving feature. Only remove hands from the steering wheel when in a Hands-Free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control of the vehicle. It does not replace safe driving. See owner’s manual for details and limitations. The BlueCruise Prep Kit contains the hardware required for this feature. Software for the feature will be available for purchase at a later date. BlueCruise functionality is expected in the third quarter of 2021. Separate payment for feature software is required to activate full functionality at that time.

About Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited

Ford of Canada’s operations include a national headquarters, three regional offices, three vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, two parts distribution centres, two R&D sites, and three Connectivity and Innovation centres. Ford employs approximately 7,000 people in Canada, while an additional 18,000 people are employed in the more than 400 Ford and Ford-Lincoln dealerships across the country. For more information, please visit www.ford.ca .

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GM’s Super Cruise Updates, Ford BlueCruise Follows

With major updates coming a month apart, both manufacturers are set on offering further autonomous capabilities to customers.

• Autonomy is on the minds of Detroit manufacturers, with GM and Ford making major updates to Super Cruise and BlueCruise, respectively.
• GM doubles its Super Cruise-available roads to around 400,000 miles of interstates and undivided highways, including difficult mountain passes like CO-82 to Aspen.
• Ford retains its 130,000 miles of usable roads while adding features like cornering speed adjustment and autonomous lane change ability.

Of course, GM can't be the only manufacturer from the Big Three to implement semi-autonomous technology. Ford’s BlueCruise system is a direct competitor to GM's Super Cruise , though the systems use slightly different technology. Notably, there is a lack of LiDAR on the Ford models. Specific differences aside, just a month after Super Cruise updated its system, Ford followed with an updated BlueCruise 1.2 system last week. While no additional roads were added to the BlueCruise maps, it did add a host of new driving safety technologies including in-lane repositioning and predicative speed assist.

The main functions of Super Cruise and BlueCruise are autonomous acceleration or braking in order to maintain a selected following gap from a vehicle ahead. The systems can also maintain lane position and can perform both driver and system-initiated lane changes to pass slower traffic and to move from a lane that may be ending. It does all this while monitoring the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention. Both systems are considered Level 2 of autonomy by the SAE autonomy scale . Specifically, GM announced historically significant roadways like Route 66 and enthusiast havens like the Pacific Coast Highway and US Route 1 are now available. Canadian customers will be excited to hear that the Trans-Canada Highway is now an available route. However, these roads aren’t the only exciting additions to the Super Cruise technology.

Additional routes through Colorado and the Rocky Mountains will also become available to Super Cruise users. Interstate 70 through Colorado and Utah was already Super Cruise approved, but a GM spokesperson confirmed that routes like Independence Pass to Aspen and US-50 through Gunnison and Montrose, Colorado, will be available shortly. These routes are significantly narrower than I-70 and can be especially challenging during inclement weather, signaling that GM has a certain degree of confidence in its revised Super Cruise system. A westward expansion of the Super Cruise network makes sense for GM. Glance at the former Super Cruise map and you’ll see a spider web of connections throughout the Midwest, South, and Eastern seaboard. Looking west of the Mississippi River, Super Cruise users found large swaths of unusable routes beyond the requisite interstates.

On the other hand, Ford chose to update the drive characteristics of its system. The update comes with three main upgrades: Lane Change Assist, Predictive Speed Assist, and In-Lane repositioning. Similar to the sharp curve technology found on GM’s system, Ford’s predictive speed assist uses uploaded maps and radar technology to slow before upcoming sharp curves while alerting the driver to the corner and speed change. Getting in line with GM, Ford also added automatic lane changes and a more sophisticated lane position feature to the updated BlueCruise, a change that Ford claims will give the autonomous technology a more human-like feel.

For now, BlueCruise is available on 130,000 miles of divided highways in the US. Ford says that over 16 million miles of hands-free driving have taken place since the rollout earlier this year. Previously offered on the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, the Lincoln Corsair will soon be equipped with the Lincoln-branded ActiveGlide 1.2 system for the 2023 model year. Other Ford and Lincoln models with BlueCruise capability include the Expedition and Navigator.

All around, the systems set out to achieve the same goal, though some obvious distinctions in accessibility and range are present. With an extensive update, GM has more than doubled the range offered by Ford's system, while BlueCruise is just now getting the ability to self-regulate lane changes. The use of LiDAR in the Super Cruise system adds a third and welcomed layer of safety in its autonomous capabilities, though Ford’s system maintains an air of legitimacy by using both radar and cameras.

Ultimately, both systems compete with each other more than they do with Tesla’s autonomous features. As Super Cruise and BlueCruise develop at a tempered rate and face the restrictions of both internal caution and industry-wide regulation, the parallels with Tesla’s more reckless Full Self Driving grow further apart. As such, the rollout of additional roads and improved safe driving capability will likely make or break the technological comparison between the two systems.

Have thoughts on autonomous driving and the progress automakers are making to achieve it? Share them in the comments below.

A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022 and Road & Track in 2024. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a BMW 318i E30 street parked in his Queens community.

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Ford to Launch BlueCruise: How it Works & How it Compares to Similar Systems

Carl anthony.

• April 16, 2021

Ford will begin offering its new BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system later in 2021. Via over-the-air software updates, the feature will be available for 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E models equipped with the optional Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package. Ford is anticipating the sale of more than 100,000 vehicles equipped with BlueCruise in the first year, based on sales and take-rate projections.

Testing & Validation

In 2020, Ford sent a fleet of 10 test vehicles – five F-150 pickups and five all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs – to complete what test drivers dubbed the “Mother of All Road Trips.” The trek covered more than 110,000 miles through 37 states and five Canadian provinces to challenge BlueCruise against a wide range of road, weather, and traffic conditions.

“There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab,” explained Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product platform and operations officer. “Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experiences is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent.”

The test vehicles spent much of last November and December traveling across the United States and Canada, searching for every possible road condition and scenario. With each passing mile, test engineers logged data and monitored the system’s performance to highlight any areas of improvement. This late 2020 trip was the final stretch of a development process that spanned a half-million miles, broken down into smaller tests, each configured to evaluate and validate a specific aspect of BlueCruise.

“I drive long-distance quite often, whether out to Boston or down to Florida to visit family or friends, and usually I mentally tire out on drives that far,” said Alexandra Taylor, BlueCruise feature development engineer, who logged more than 3,000 miles in an F-150 on the journey. “The one thing that became clear is that, when using BlueCruise, long drives aren’t nearly as mentally taxing to me.”

Mission Control

Taylor and fellow engineer Shruti Gotadki set out on an eight-day journey covering the southeast United States, targeting driving differences between Jacksonville, Louisville, Atlanta, and other major urban areas. Meanwhile, back at the Ford lab, driver-assist technology supervisor Justin Teems monitored the entire fleet’s progress, corralling essential data that will help shape the BlueCruise driving experience in the months and years ahead.

“It was like mission control,” Teems recalled. “We really wanted to push BlueCruise to its limits. Every state builds roads a little differently. When you include factors like lane line degradation, weather and construction, building a hands-free driving system becomes extremely complex. Those complexities are why Ford has the best team of engineers in the world working on it.”

How BlueCruise Works

Using camera and radar-sensing technologies and building upon Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering and Speed Sign Recognition, BlueCruise is designed to add another layer of convenience for drivers. According to Ford, the feature allows a driver to operate truly hands-free on prequalified sections of divided highways called “Hands-Free Blue Zones.” Ford’s Lane Centering feature and a driver-facing camera in the instrument cluster (monitors eye gaze and head position) help ensure the system’s overall safety.

As of this writing, more than 100,000 miles of highways across North America have dedicated Hands-Free Blue Zones in the Ford GPS mapping system. BlueCruise uses blue lighting (naturally!) on the digital instrument cluster to indicate when a driver is entering a hands-free zone.

BlueCruise vs. Super Cruise

As described by Ford, BlueCruise is an SAE Level 2 driver-assist technology that, while in Hands-Free Mode, does not require a driver’s hands to stay in contact with the steering wheel unless prompted by vehicle alerts.

“Unlike other approaches – such as GM’s Super Cruise , which uses red and green lighting, or Tesla’s Autopilot, which requires a driver keep their hands on the steering wheel – BlueCruise communicates with drivers in different ways,” Ford said in a statement. “The instrument cluster transitions to communicate that the feature is in Hands-Free mode through text and blue lighting cues, effective even for those with color blindness.”

Pricing & Availability

Beyond the 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E, additional vehicles will also receive BlueCruise, while current owners will receive over-the-air software updates to add new features and capabilities. Future updates include systems like Lane Change Assist (allows the vehicle to change lanes by tapping the turn signal) and Predictive Speed Assist (adjusts speed for curves, roundabouts, and more). Regular mapping updates are also in the works.

2021 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E customers will be able to purchase BlueCruise software – including a three-year service period – for $600 in the second half of 2021. Hardware pricing varies by vehicle.

For F-150, BlueCruise is available as a part of the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package for a total of $1,595: $600 for the software and $995 for the hardware. The Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package is standard on F-150 Limited and available as an option on Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum.

For Mustang Mach-E, BlueCruise comes standard on CA Route 1, Premium, and First Edition variants. It’s an available package on the Select trim for $3,200: $600 for the software and $2,600 for the rest of the package – as part of the larger Comfort and Technology package, which includes a 360-degree camera, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

News of BlueCruise comes on the heels of two other significant mobility announcements from Ford: the availability of  Active Drive Assist  for the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E, and the formation of  Team Upshift , a collaboration from Ford and Google focused on the modernization of product development, manufacturing, and supply chain management (among other objectives). 

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The hardware for the tech is about to come standard on a swath of new models—but actually using it will require a fee

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News has surfaced the Ford Motor Company is planning to build an outsized number of 2024-model-year vehicles with the hardware required to run BlueCruise, a semi-autonomous driving aid intended to compete with GM’s SuperCruise and the so-called Autopilot from Tesla . But in order to use the feature, it seems buyers will still have to front some cash.

Ford reveals subscription pricing for semi-autonomous BlueCruise Back to video

That’s thanks to an ecosystem in which the hardware on some future Fords may not be activated without paying an extra fee. This is the case currently with a few of the Blue Oval offerings, such as the Mach-E Premium, which commands CDN$2,500 up front to activate BlueCruise upon the car’s delivery. At present, buyers who did not check that pre-pay option box are given a 90-day trial of the service, after which it packs up and leaves faster than Doug Ford sticking shovels in the Greenbelt.

South of the border, American shoppers can choose to reactivate BlueCruise for US$75 per month, or US$800 per year if they bypassed the pre-pay option, which costs US$2,100 for three years in that market. Given the price spread between our two countries, we estimate Ford may charge CDN$100 a month or CDN$975 a year for BlueCruise in this neck of the woods. We’ve reached out to our contact at Ford Canada and will update this post with any new information.

Learn more about the cars

2024 ford f-150.

MSRP  $49,955 to $106,975

2024 Ford Escape

MSRP  $33,049 to $47,879

2025 Ford Explorer

MSRP  $50,535 to $69,135

2023 Ford Transit Passenger Van

MSRP  $63,875 to $80,385

2024 Ford Ranger

MSRP  $41,870 to $77,945

[ UPDATE: per contacts at the Blue Oval, BlueCruise activation for 2024 Ford vehicles equipped with BlueCruise in Canada costs $2,750 for three years at time of order or vehicle purchase. If a customer chooses not to activate upfront, they will automatically receive a 90-day complimentary trial, then have the option to select a $1,050 annual plan or a $100 monthly plan .]

It is worth noting that BlueCruise has yet to map large swaths of Canadian highways, especially compared to their efforts in America and what’s on tap with GM’s SuperCruise. Using an online tool straight from Ford , it seems BlueCruise-mapped roads (Ford calls them “Blue Zones”) are concentrated in southern Ontario, with a few tendrils sticking out east and a few pockets out west. Driving from Halifax to Toronto or Ottawa is 95 per cent covered, but heading west of those destinations will flummox the BlueCruise system. Ottawa to Edmonton is only 3 per cent mapped, for example.

We’ve covered this ground before, of course. BMW made all hands apoplectic when the spectre of paying a subscription fee for heated seats came to the fore , and it is widely known some Tesla models have features baked into their construction which are only officially accessible by sending Elon some extra cash. We say “officially accessible” because hackers have recently shown the ability to unlock items like heated rear seats in a Tesla by tricking the car’s computer using methods far beyond this writer’s comprehension. Could the same thing happen to Ford at some point in the future?

Regardless of that wrinkle, it sure seems like car companies are eager to get on board with this new revenue stream of monthly recurring charges that permit owners to use hardware which is already on their car.

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Matthew Guy

2021 Castrol-Wakefield Automotive Writing Award, runner-up

Runner Up - 2023 AJAC Adventure and Travel Journalism Award presented by Genesis Canada

Winner - 2023 AJAC Road Safety Journalism Award presented by Volvo Canada

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewkguy

Instagram: @DudeDrivesCars

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