Bluecruise 1.5 - automated lane changes - MotorTrend test drive

[swajames]

MotorTrend article discussing BC1.5, with the big feature being automated lane changes.

No idea if/when we might see 1.5 on Lightnings, and if so whether it might also be pushed out to the earlier adopters, but looks like a nice upgrade.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/...5-is-an-even-better-hands-free-driving-system

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[PJnc284]

Patrick and Liv with Mach-e vlog tested it also. Ford still has a long way to justify the price tag and if I'm not mistaken, there's different hardware on the 25's so older models may be stuck at 1.4. That or we might get it sometime around 2050. On the fence of just going the comma route.

 

[Vulnox]

Yeah we have the automated lane changes on our 2025 MME. It's cool for sure. The 2025 MME does have updated hardware for BC so time will tell if that becomes a limiting factor.

In testing it on a few longer drives, it seems to overtake if the person in front is 3 MPH or more slower than you. If they were only 2 MPH slower the car didn't try to pass. Which I generally appreciate. I hate left lane drivers and those that pass at a snails pace, so if I am going to pass I would prefer it make sense to.

Cool feature but yeah, once our BC trial on the MME is over that will probably be it for BC for a bit unless they give a good deal. We just don't use it enough to even be worth $50/mo.

 

[RedTib]

If Ford is going to leave older vehicles on BlueCruise 1.4 with no further updates, then they should offer a discounted subscription program. $41-$50/month is insanity when you're paying for mapping updates.

 

[Maineiac12]

If Ford is going to leave older vehicles on BlueCruise 1.4 with no further updates, then they should offer a discounted subscription program. $41-$50/month is insanity when you're paying for mapping updates.

Agreed. It’s a handy feature but not worth $50/month or $500/year.

If they dropped it to $25/month or $299 for a year I’d bite.

 

[F150ROD]

Hardware upgrade for a small fee @Ford Motor Company

 

[Daragh]

LMAO! They’d (Ford Motor Company) be better suited getting everybody up dated to the latest version of BC and all the OTA updates instead of having a first, second, third class etc tiered user system. Seems they are more interested in marketing features than releasing them! I’m still on 1.0 so most likely will never see 1.5 given a 10 year vehicle ownership term.

 

[swajames]

LMAO! They’d (Ford Motor Company) be better suited getting everybody up dated to the latest version of BC and all the OTA updates instead of having a first, second, third class etc tiered user system. Seems they are more interested in marketing features than releasing them! I’m still on 1.0 so most likely will never see 1.5 given a 10 year vehicle ownership term.

Assume you've tried your dealer? There are a few very helpful members here who can take a look with your VIN to see if there's anything pending and/or anything obviously wrong that may explain your lack of updates. The other thing might be to opt in to Early Access if you can.

Good luck.

 

[PJnc284]

The other thing might be to opt in to Early Access if you can.

Signed up Feb 2024 when I bought mine and still waitlisted. Which they'd probably smack my hand for updating myself with FDRS.

 

[daczone]

How do you know what version you are using?

 

[PJnc284]

24's shipped with 1.2. Was mentioned back in march that the updated modules were showing in FDRS but not sure anyone has received it OTA on a 24.

 

[Firn]

LMAO! They’d (Ford Motor Company) be better suited getting everybody up dated to the latest version of BC and all the OTA updates instead of having a first, second, third class etc tiered user system. Seems they are more interested in marketing features than releasing them! I’m still on 1.0 so most likely will never see 1.5 given a 10 year vehicle ownership term.

All I can say is once every two weeks leave the truck running for an hour or so in a place with good cellular coverage.

Go grocery shopping? Leave it running in the parking lot.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Why would anyone expect to get HARDWARE UPGRADES for free from anyone, ever, for anything?? On what planet does anyone do that? Or think that they're entitled to that? Or get a discount for being on old hardware??? Some people are completely disconnected from reality. Maybe Apple will start giving you new phones for free because they made a new one? Or charge you less money for your iCloud if you stay on an old phone?

 

[Vulnox]

Why would anyone expect to get HARDWARE UPGRADES for free from anyone, ever, for anything?? On what planet does anyone do that? Or think that they're entitled to that? Or get a discount for being on old hardware??? Some people are completely disconnected from reality. Maybe Apple will start giving you new phones for free because they made a new one? Or charge you less money for your iCloud if you stay on an old phone?

Yeah, that's going to continue to be a rough spot for people to get over, even though they have as you pointed out had phones and computers that even if they can be updated, still have an end life on when some updates can't apply to them. You can keep an iPhone for several years, but every year the new iOS will have some features that your phone won't be able to get. Just because cars can get updates doesn't mean some features just won't be possible.

But people continue to struggle with the guess-o-meter despite it being just an unreliable on ICE vehicles they drove for years. So I suspect it will just be the new thing with "Why doesn't my 2022 Lightning have the update to charge at 350kW like the new 2027 models?!"

All that said, Ford also needs to be clear on what BlueCruise buys them. I don't agree with people saying that they should get a discount on BC because their vehicle can't do auto lane changes if auto lane changes are a vehicle hardware feature. The BC subscription is for updating the mapping of highways it can be used on, and what that gets you is hands-free. Lane changes and everything else while they happen during BlueCruise, are not the core thing you are buying.

But if we get to a point where some vehicles can use BlueCruise on side streets, but you need updated hardware, Ford should have a difference in price for those that can only use it on highways.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Hardware upgrades for a fee is not unthinkable.

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