BlueCruise vs Intelligent Cruise Control

[mpshizzle]

Lane change assist is what I am referring to, but I'm still a bit skeptical as to whether we see it on current generation cars. Even better would be a system where the car would just intelligently change lanes to maintain the desired speed limit, but I think that's a long way down the line, and I certainly wouldn't expect that on the current generation of vehicles.

As far as hardware capability, yeah 100% possible with the sensors the car has. Plus Ford did promise that feature as an update on cars with this hardware which means they've at least done some preliminary testing with it.

As to when... Who knows. We've all see what the update pace has been up to now, we'll see what happens with the future updates

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[SpaceEVDriver]

I have Blue Cruise in my Mustang. We like it just for easing the stress factor on long trips on the highway. We don't use the speed limit sign recognition which can be turned off.

I've tried BC on city streets and don't like it all that much. But I don't have a commute so maybe I would change my mind if I had to drive in such traffic.

Two other, minor benefits that I found to it are:
1) It mitigates, somewhat, the stupid design of the HVAC controls. We can take our eyes off the road for a couple of seconds to change temperature, etc, when BC is on.
2) It allows me to take my jacket/sweater off after the car interior has warmed up.

I didn't like it when driving at night because I started to use it beyond when I maybe should have let my passenger drive. I don't trust the design of the software enough, especially edge cases, to want it to be driving for me.

It's a nice assistant, but it's not a replacement for an aware and in-control driver.

 

[TruWrecks]

I've tried BC on city streets and don't like it all that much. But I don't have a commute so maybe I would change my mind if I had to drive in such traffic.

Are you sure you are talking about BlueCruise and not Lane Centering?

BlueCruie only operates on predefined highways and freeways. Not city streets to date have been mpped for public use that I am aware of.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Are you sure you are talking about BlueCruise and not Lane Centering?

BlueCruie only operates on predefined highways and freeways. Not city streets to date have been mpped for public use that I am aware of.

Nope. I'm talking about BC.
There are a few areas in our town that the BC hands free symbol will pop up if I turn on the CC. Mostly on Route 66, which is a main thoroughfare through the town.

 

[Thunderanger]

Are all 2021 Job 2 cars equipped with BC? Ours was built 12/21/21. No BC.

 

[RickMachE]

Are all 2021 Job 2 cars equipped with BC? Ours was built 12/21/21. No BC.

All 2021 Job 2 cars, ordered with BlueCruise, have BC. If you didn't order it with BC, then it not only doesn't have it, but it cannot be added.

In the picture below, the module with the tiny screen (nothing on it) above the steering wheel and below the display would be in the vehicle.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Nope. I'm talking about BC.
There are a few areas in our town that the BC hands free symbol will pop up if I turn on the CC. Mostly on Route 66, which is a main thoroughfare through the town.

The hands-free mode of BlueCruise only works on mapped predefined, divided controlled access freeways and nowhere else. The hands-on mode, whether that be dumb cruise control, adaptive cruise control with speed and distance following, or intelligent cruise control with speed sign recognition, can be used anywhere as long as your hands are on the wheel. Route 66 qualifies in the latter case, not the former hands-free mode.

 

[Thunderanger]

Got it. Thank you. So presumably my Select with the tech pkg doesn't have it. I didn't order it. Bought it from dealer stock. Thanks again.

 

[ThunderDome]

WOW who needs BlueCruise?!

 

[Mirak]

Thanks, yeah I don’t think it’s such an inconvenience to keep a hand loosely on the wheel. Your eyes are required to be on the road anyways. So I guess the benefit is you can put both hands in your pockets if you’d like?

I would not recommend putting both hands in your pockets. How tight are your pockets?

 

[Mirak]

I don't know what you mean by "automatic lane changes", but Ford has already said that future enhancements are more zones, Lane Change Assist, and Predictive Speed Assist.

Lane Change Assist, once a driver has signaled a lane change, allows the vehicle to autonomously steer into the next lane.

Predictive Speed Assist will adjust speed for curves, roundabouts, and more.

I think the odds are 100% that these two features at least will come to this generation of cars.

Lane Change Assist seems like a nice feature, maybe. I still sometimes struggle with checking blind spots. Agree that like Tesla AP, it’s going to have to be initiated by the driver.

I’m a little more dubious of Predictive Speed Assist. I’m having difficulty envisioning how this works or how useful this is, unless it is going to enable hands free driving on interchanges (which I kinda doubt).

 

[Sillybibbles]

I too have wondered the difference between the two, and find the controls vague. Am I engaging cruise control, lane stay, blue Cruise...?

Sometimes I think the display indicates smart cruise control but it does not lane stay. Also I find that having blue Cruise and smart cruise control switching back and forth is confusing, and I am constantly forgetting to grab the wheel.

Maybe after driving with this for a couple months I will get the hang of when each of those kicks in.

 

[MacherAWD]

Got it. Thank you. So presumably my Select with the tech pkg doesn't have it. I didn't order it. Bought it from dealer stock. Thanks again.

The Tech package on a Select adds BC. I have a 2021 Job 2, the Comfort and Tech adds 360 cameras, kick open hatch, self park, BC, and then heated seats/wheels and others. You should have it if you have Tech package. It will also be listed in your window sticker.

 

[MacherAWD]

Two other, minor benefits that I found to it are:
1) It mitigates, somewhat, the stupid design of the HVAC controls. We can take our eyes off the road for a couple of seconds to change temperature, etc, when BC is on.
2) It allows me to take my jacket/sweater off after the car interior has warmed up

Agreed, even reaching for a water bottle, unscrewing the cap, drinking and putting it back, much safer. The occasional reach to the back seat to hand the kids something, so many times I think its nice to be able to look away and reach for something.

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