It’s no secret that self-driving cars and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are already alive and well in the automotive market. Ford and Chevrolet have joined them with their release of the BlueCruise and Super Cruise technology for select vehicles. The manufacturers boast this technology reduces driver fatigue, making long road trips easier and more enjoyable.
Fox Factory’s partnership with Ford and Chevrolet hasn’t been forgotten in this regard, with the lifted 2025 Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 featuring BlueCruise/Super Cruise technology despite being modified. This makes Fox Factory Vehicles the first upfitter to validate hands-free compliance on lifted trucks!
What does this mean for truck buyers? You no longer have to choose between performance upgrades and compatibility with cutting-edge driving technology.
(Image retrieved from media.ford.com)
What is Hands-Free Driving
So, how does all of this work? It may seem daunting to some to relinquish control over the steering wheel, but manufacturers have thought ahead! Thousands of miles of road already mapped as BlueCruise or Super Cruise capable in a network built for hands-free operation. For BlueCruise linked roads, Ford has a map tool to see if this technology has reached your area (check it out here!).
However, that doesn’t mean you’re safe to take your eyes off the road just yet! Drivers will still have to facilitate lane changes by engaging the blinker or other indicators. Either way, this takes the standard cruise control up a notch by offering a hands-free and feet-off driving experience even for lifted trucks.
Ford BlueCruise vs. GM Super Cruise
Depending on whether you need BlueCruise to work when you’re towing, or want changing lanes to be autonomous, you may prefer one truck over the other. Let’s take a deeper dive and compare the two manufacturer technologies on the F150 and Silverado 1500:
|
Feature |
Ford BlueCruise |
GM Super Cruise |
|
Mapped Road Coverage |
130,000 miles (Hands-Free Blue Zones) |
750,000 miles (Lidar-mapped highways) |
|
Lane Centering |
✅ Keeps the truck centered |
✅ More precise due to lidar mapping |
|
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) |
✅Maintains follow distance |
✅ Maintains follow distance & executes lane changes |
|
Automatic Lane Changes |
❌ Requires driver to use blinker |
✅ Fully autonomous lane changes |
|
Works While Towing |
❌ No |
✅ Yes, but no autonomous lane changes while towing |
|
Sensor Tech |
Radar & cameras |
Lidar, HD GPS, cameras |
|
Driver Monitoring |
Cameras on steering column & dashboard |
Steering wheel light bar & driver-facing camera |
|
Reliability in Merging/Curves |
Still improving, can pinball between lanes |
More stable & confident lane control |
In 2024, Ford released a new version of its BlueCruise hands-free driving software, version 1.4, which allows for 2x - 5x the amount of time hands-free compared to version 1.2 and 1.3. The upgraded motion controller allows for better lane centering, as well as better handling in unfavorable conditions, tight curves, narrow lanes, and sun reflections.
This version 1.4 technology will ship in the new 2025 Ford F-150 trucks, including the Fox Factory edition trucks in Black Widow or Rocky Ridge packages.
(Image: Interior of Fox Factory Vehicles F150 during TRC testing)
Hands-Free Driving on Lifted Trucks
In general, the ADAS systems rely on calibrated sensors around the vehicle that may be disrupted with modifications such as a lift kit, bigger tires or suspension changes. However, Fox Factory Vehicles is the first to validate and retain compliance, ensuring the hands-free driving experience even with modifications.
Fox Factory Vehicles partnered up with TRC Inc. to develop a customized, real-world testing program that specifically tested the ADAS functions in modified F-150 and Silverado trucks. The vehicles were measured in lane centering, Adaptive Cruise Control and Intelligent Speed Assist features. The results retained full functionality systems with the lift kits and other upfit modifications made to the trucks.
(Image Above: Fox Factory Vehicles upfitted F150 during TRC testing)
What This Means for You
If having a “cool” looking truck matters to you, but you’re a tech geek that loves the idea of autonomous driving, then Fox Factory Vehicles has your solution.
You can have the lifted and modified truck of your dreams, while simultaneously being an active participant in the new frontier in driving tech. Here at Fox Factory Vehicles, we’re setting the standard along with our partners to shape the future of upfitted trucks.
The Future of Upfitted Trucks is Hands-Free
Fox Factory Vehicles is leading the way in making lifted trucks compatible with futuristic technologies such as BlueCruise and Super Cruise.
Whether your dream truck is an F-150 or Silverado, you can experience high-end performance upgrades with cutting-edge technology. Don’t go anywhere though, Fox Factory Vehicles and our partners are just getting started.
Ready to try out the BlueCruise or Super Cruise technology for yourself? Build your dream truck now or test drive at your local dealer
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