Ford has introduced the latest version of its BlueCruise hands-free highway driving software, offering a new feature that enables smooth and seamless hands-free lane changes to overtake slower traffic while maintaining the driver’s preferred speed.
The update, called BlueCruise 1.5, was developed by the Ford Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) team and aims to enhance the overall driving experience.
The all-new feature, Automatic Lane Change, allows BlueCruise to automatically initiate a lane change when it detects a clear adjacent lane. According to Ford’s internal testing, BlueCruise 1.5 can automate up to 45% of lane changes during an average drive.
Before executing a lane change, BlueCruise provides the driver with both visual and audio alerts, and a display on the driver’s information screen explains the reason for the maneuver, such as passing slower vehicles or moving out of a passing lane.
Ford clarified that the hands-free lane change will occur unless the driver intervenes by tapping the turn signal in the opposite direction or holding the steering wheel in place. The feature can also be disabled through the vehicle’s Driver Assistance settings.
BlueCruise was first introduced on the Mustang Mach-E, with the latest version, BlueCruise 1.5, launching on the 2025 Mustang Mach-E. In addition to the hands-free lane change, owners of the 2025 Mustang Mach-E will experience extended hands-free driving capabilities in a variety of conditions, thanks to improvements delivered in BlueCruise 1.4.
Ford’s data reveals that around 77% of BlueCruise trips in the U.S. last year were under 20 minutes. For longer highway journeys exceeding one hour, BlueCruise was used more than 50% of the time, making it a popular feature for road trips.
