Lane assist without BC subscription?

[summerlinLV]

I suppose it would be the same as having Sirius/XM on the sticker. The car has it, but it doesn't do anything without the subscription.

I went back and look at my window sticker and it does not show Sirius/XM as a standard or optional equipment although it is included.

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[kodiakng]

I'm a little confused by this message. I would interpret the screenshot and your comment to mean that lane centering (which is different than lane keeping) is NOT available without subscription. And that would be a really big deal.

from the jan 2023 MY23 order guide:

whereas, the aug 2022 version of the MY23 order guide:

so, ford is definitely changing things midstream even at this late of a date. the MY21-22 years had similar changes in what was included.

it would be useful for ford to declare some specifics but they appear to be organizationally unable to do that.

 

[kodiakng]

This isn't accurate. The adaptive cruise can be intelligent without blue cruise. This is just a system of automatically changing the set speed of the cruise based on map and camera data. This has been available for a few years on other Ford cars that do not have Blue Cruise available. For instance the '21 Explorer which does not have Blue Cruise. While it is convenient to combine intelligent adaptive cruise and Blue Cruise they are 2 distinct features and can be used independently of each other.
Also, lane keeping and lane centering are 2 different functions that can also be used together or independently from each other. They also work without Blue Cruise as my '19 Edge has both and does not have Blue Cruise. The lane centering makes sure you are paying attention by monitoring torque inputs on the steering wheel. Thus why it can be tricked with a weight attached to the steering wheel. (Though Blue Cruise equipped cars appear to track eyes when using just lane centering and not Blue Cruise).
Blue Cruise simply allows you to activate Adaptive cruise and Lane centering and it uses eye tracking instead of steering wheel torque to monitor that you are paying attention. In order for Ford to be comfortable with you taking your hands off the wheel, they limit this option to specific roads that they have a detailed mapping of.

thank you for the treatise. everything you've noted supports my statement that BlueCruise enhances other existing features and that it isn't clear what happens when the subscription on a Mach-E ends.

 

[Awmustang]

I went back and look at my window sticker and it does not show Sirius/XM as a standard or optional equipment although it is included.

I was talking more broadly than just the Mach-E. My point being that Ford "got away with" putting something on the window sticker that requires a subscription, so I don't see why this would be any different.

 

[Mirak]

I'm a little confused by this message. I would interpret the screenshot and your comment to mean that lane centering (which is different than lane keeping) is NOT available without subscription. And that would be a really big deal.

The inexact terminology Ford uses to describe “Bluecruise” is what creates the confusion.

But here is the simple truth, before the “hands free” functionality was enabled, my 2021 had all the other driver assist tech which used to collectively be called CoPilot360 - including Intelligent Cruise Control and Lane Centering.

The “BlueCruise” that requires a subscription was just the hands-free bit - which turns your screen blue and enables the eye nanny in lieu of the hand nanny.

So when the subscription lapses, I think the odds are very high that the only thing you’ll lose is the hands-free function. If Ford tries to take anything else away from me, I’ll sue them. Seriously.

Another way of looking at this is “blue screen” versus “not blue screen.” I am highly confident that the only thing you’ll lose when the subscription lapses is “blue screen.” The only additional feature with “blue screen” is the hands-free bit. Everything else works with the non blue screen.

 

[Awmustang]

thank you for the treatise. everything you've noted supports my statement that BlueCruise enhances other existing features and that it isn't clear what happens when the subscription on a Mach-E ends.

While you might be able to argue that it enhances the lane centering. It doesn't do anything to lane keeping, adaptive cruise, intelligent cruise or any of the other features that work exactly the same on other cars without Blue Cruise.
I think it's pretty clear that when the subscription ends, that enhancement ends and all those features that work the same and are named the same on cars without Blue Cruise will revert to that functionality.

 

[Mirak]

While you might be able to argue that it enhances the lane centering. It doesn't do anything to lane keeping, adaptive cruise, intelligent cruise or any of the other features that work exactly the same on other cars without Blue Cruise.

I think it's pretty clear that when the subscription ends, that enhancement ends and all those features that work the same and are named the same on cars without Blue Cruise will revert to that functionality.

Blue Cruise does not enhance the accuracy of Lane Centering. If anyone said that, there is absolutely zero evidence for that. The subscription was to swap the eye-nanny for the hand-nanny. Everything else I already had prior to the subscription.

 

[Maquis]

from the jan 2023 MY23 order guide:

whereas, the aug 2022 version of the MY23 order guide:

so, ford is definitely changing things midstream even at this late of a date. the MY21-22 years had similar changes in what was included.

it would be useful for ford to declare some specifics but they appear to be organizationally unable to do that.

The differences between those guides simply reflect the new features of BC 1.2.

 

[Awmustang]

Blue Cruise does not enhance the accuracy of Lane Centering. If anyone said that, there is absolutely zero evidence for that. The subscription was to swap the eye-nanny for the hand-nanny. Everything else I already had prior to the subscription.

I completely agree, the "enhancement" is only in being able to remove your hands from the steering wheel. Honestly I'm not sure that's an enhancement but I was trying to meet kodiakng half way.

 

[awp0]

The inexact terminology Ford uses to describe “Bluecruise” is what creates the confusion.

But here is the simple truth, before the “hands free” functionality was enabled, my 2021 had all the other driver assist tech which used to collectively be called CoPilot360 - including Intelligent Cruise Control and Lane Centering.

The “BlueCruise” that requires a subscription was just the hands-free bit - which turns your screen blue and enables the eye nanny in lieu of the hand nanny.

So when the subscription lapses, I think the odds are very high that the only thing you’ll lose is the hands-free function. If Ford tries to take anything else away from me, I’ll sue them. Seriously.

Another way of looking at this is “blue screen” versus “not blue screen.” I am highly confident that the only thing you’ll lose when the subscription lapses is “blue screen.” The only additional feature with “blue screen” is the hands-free bit. Everything else works with the non blue screen.

Truly hope you're right!

 

[kennelh]

from the jan 2023 MY23 order guide:

The Perdictive Speed Assist make me really want the BC 1.2 OTA now.

 

[Mach1E]

I was talking more broadly than just the Mach-E. My point being that Ford "got away with" putting something on the window sticker that requires a subscription, so I don't see why this would be any different.

That is a good point about XM being on the sticker.

The important differences being-

1. I paid $1900 for a line item “Bluecruise”

and

2. Neither on the sticker, nor in the order guide does it mention “3 years“ except in reference to Navigation.

 

[jpiazza67]

Should.

What bothers some is the use of the BlueCruise name during adaptive cruise control. Hence the concern. If the concerns end up being valid, which I personally rather doubt, there will be a large hue and cry and probably pitchforks involved.

My window sticker says I have Copilot 360, Active 2.0 prep package. This gives my car (Job 1 sold 2/21) everything it needed for the later BC download. It's bought and part of the car, the BC is the subscription. It only covers hand free sometimes. Everything else is part of the car. That's my interpretation anyways.

 

[mkhuffman]

What worries me is the terminology.

The little bubble is still called “Bluecruise.”

In fact with the little bubble the screen pops up and says “Bluecruise on.”

My car does not have the face nanny or any other BC specific hardware.

When I turn on Adaptive Cruise, I get the blue circle just like shown in your picture.

Adaptive Cruise allows me to take my hands off the steering wheel for about 10-15 seconds before the car starts fussing at me. It keeps the car centered in the lane and adapts to the speed of the cars in front of me. It brings me to a complete stop, and will move again once traffic starts moving. I usually push on the go pedal to get it moving again after a stop. Because I am impatient.

With Adaptive Cruise off, Lane Assist is still on but it is much weaker than when cruise is on. It will not keep you centered. It will nudge you back into the lane if you stray too close to the edge of the lane. I think it will also buzz the steering wheel but I hate that feature and have it turned off.

 

[jpiazza67]

I got a verification from the Fordpass customer service. A Bluecruise subsription is for hands free driving only. My window sticker shows the following related standard equipment for my 2021 J1 MME Premium: Co-pilot 360, Active 2.0 Prep Package. Without BC, everything else but hands free will continue to work. I was told that the listed equipment is part of the car, not part of a subscription. Off topic slightly, but I also learned that Nav is $80/yr when it expires.

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