While recent technological advancements in the automotive industry are making it more and more possible for hands-free driving to become mainstream in the United States, the practice is still generally frowned upon by legislators and road safety advocates.
Among the vehicles equipped with this type of technology, the reigning king is the Cadillac Super Cruise, thanks to its use of pre-mapped highways and a driver-facing infrared camera to ensure that that steering wheel is never left unattended.
But as typical market competition goes, other automakers won’t leave General Motors unrivaled in this segment. One company that’s working on posing a solid challenge is Ford.
According to recent reports, the Blue Oval is planning to equip its models with the Active Drive Assist technology, with the first two being the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E.
The Active Drive Assist is designed to allow hands-free driving on specific roads. It makes use of radar sensors and cameras to ensure that the allowed distance and speed, as well as proper lane positioning, are maintained. Similar to the Super Cruise, it also uses a driver-facing camera to regularly check the driver’s attention levels.
Based on Ford’s press release, the 2021 F-150 will get the Active Drive Assist tech as standard equipment on its Limited trim and as an option on the King Ranch, Lariat, and Platinum variants. The Mach-E, on the other hand, will get it as standard on the Premium, Edition One, and CA Route 1 models. Buyers of the Select trim can get it as part of the Comfort and Technology package.
Customers looking to purchase an F-150 or Mach-E will have to get Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 Prep Package as well. This way, their vehicles can be updated with the Active Drive Assist once it becomes available.
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