In a few months, Ford will launch its first new-generation electric car, the Mustang Mach-E. This D-segment SUV is an ambitious bet on the part of the manufacturer of the oval since the model will have to face rivals such as the Nissan Ariya, the Tesla Model Y, and the Volkswagen ID.4, among others.
The American model promises an attractive design, first-class performance, a wide range, and a price similar to that of its competitors. Now, Ford has revealed that the SUV will also be its first model to incorporate the Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0, whose main innovation will be the use of a driver-oriented camera that will allow “hands-free” driving.
Buyers will be able to purchase Active Drive Assist hardware from the start. However, until the third quarter of 2021, new advanced driving assistants cannot be bought and activated, either through an OTA update (following the steps of Tesla, which also allows enabling new functions after the car is purchased) or in a Ford dealer.
The Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0 will allow hands-free driving to be activated only on some North American roads. “Hands-free mode will enable drivers on individual previously mapped sections of motorways to drive with their hands off the wheel if they continue to pay attention to the road, giving them an extra level of comfort during long trips.”
An advanced driver-facing infrared camera will track gaze and head position to ensure drivers pay attention to the road while in hands-free mode and lane-centering mode, which works in any location—highway with lane lines. Drivers will be notified by visual prompts in the instrumentation when they need to refocus their attention on the road or take control of the vehicle.
The Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0 system will include both Road Edge Detection and Blind Spot Assist: the first will allow better detection of lane limits and alert the driver if necessary. In contrast, the second will act on the direction if it detects that we are going to hit a vehicle in our blind spot.