Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn is adding BlueCruise 1.5 to the 2025 Mustang Mach-E electric car when it hits dealer showrooms early next year.
BlueCruise 1.5 is a continuation of the automaker’s hands-free driving technology, designed to smoothly and seamlessly initiate a hands-free lane change to pass slower moving traffic and keep the vehicle driving hands-free at the operator’s preferred speed.
“It will help drivers stay engaged longer in hands-free mode than prior versions and keep them moving through traffic,” says Sammy Omari, executive director of advanced driver assist system technologies at Ford.
”It will try to avoid merging with traffic moving much faster than your vehicle. It can also avoid moving the vehicle into the right-hand lane where off-ramps and inconsistent lane markings are present or merging with traffic that requires you to put your hands back on the wheel.”
According to Omari, the new capability increases the amount of time one can spend driving hands-free without interruption. In Ford’s internal testing, on an average drive, BlueCruise 1.5 will automate up to 45 percent of lane changes.
Here is how it works:
- BlueCruise can perform a single lane change when it detects a clear adjacent lane and there is enough time to perform the maneuver smoothly.
- Before BlueCruise makes an automatic lane change, a visual and audio prompt will alert the driver that a lane change is about to occur. A reason for making the maneuver will also be displayed in the driver’s information display screen in front of the steering wheel, like if the vehicle is changing lanes for slower moving traffic or to move out of a passing lane.
- A hands-free lane change will automatically occur unless you tap the turn signal in the opposite direction of the planned lane change or hold the steering wheel in place.
A driver not comfortable with Automatic Lane Change, can disable it in the Driver Assistance settings.
In addition to the new driver assist system, the 2025 Mustang Mach-E will offer a new Sport Appearance Package that brings key styling cues from Mustang Mach-E GT at a lower price point, including the front fascia and grille shield and painted red front Brembo-branded brake calipers, as well as 19-inch monochromatic high-gloss black-painted wheels and black-painted door cladding and wheel lips.
Red accent stitching and sport pedals complete the interior upgrades. Ventilated front seats are now standard on Premium models. A column-mounted shifter replaces the previous center-mounted dial shifter on all models, freeing up console space.
A new Ford Connectivity Package is intended to enhance the in-vehicle experience. This package includes:
- Wi-Fi Hotspot: 5G Wi-Fi keeps drivers and their family online and connected while on the road. This can be used for up to 10 personal devices and can extend up to 50 feet from the vehicle, great for camping or tailgating. 3
- Apps: Access apps via the in-vehicle screen to watch YouTube or sing along to in-vehicle karaoke while parked. Occupants can also stream their favorite audio entertainment apps via Alexa.4
- Maps: Access Connected Navigation to get where you need to go, including features such as EV Trip Planner, Predictive Destinations, and Route Guidance.5
In Other Ford Motor Co. News: The company’s Lincoln brand is celebrating 10 years of specially curated interior experiences with the launch of a new theme — Moonbeam. The newest Lincoln Black Label theme is inspired by the tranquility of a lunar landscape and will be available on the 2025 Aviator.
“From its inception, Lincoln Black Label has been a differentiator for the brand with meticulous design elements and elevated services only accessible with Lincoln Black Label,” says Megan McKenzie, head of U.S. marketing for Lincoln. “These specially designed interior themes and experiences are inspired by the love of travel, the arts, culture, architecture, and more, representing the very best of Lincoln and elevating the ownership experience.”
Available on the Nautilus, Aviator, and Navigator, Black Label contributed more than 13 percent of total Lincoln SUV sales through the third quarter of this year and is key to welcoming new clients to the brand, the automaker says.
The Moonbeam interior features a new light green moonbeam color, reminiscent of a moon glow, accented with dark green piping. This creates a “serene and sophisticated interior that is both elegant and inviting,” according to Lincoln.
The Moonbeam theme features light green leather seating surfaces with a perforated leather design inspired by a shooting star trail and a laser engraved moon ash applique, creating a pattern reminiscent of the moon’s surface texture over open pore khaya wood.
The organic form of the laser design reflects the ethereal glow of the moon.
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