2026 Ford Ranger to get hands-free driving, new infotainment

Details of the refreshed 2026 Ford Ranger have surfaced, revealing that the popular ute is in store for the car-maker’s most advanced driverless tech and its latest software, as the Blue Oval prepares to fend off a raft of new Chinese opposition.

According to well-respected Ford Authority, the Ford Ranger will get both the newest Ford Digital Experience (FDE) and the brand’s most advanced BlueCruise semi-autonomous cruise control, which in the US market currently allows for hands-off cruising in geofenced areas.

Both additions are primed to give the Ranger the edge over not only its new rivals but also the Toyota HiLux, which frequently robs it of its top-selling ute crown in Australia.

Revealing the upgrades are on the way but not confirming official timing, Ford’s digital design boss Doug Field said the FDE platform is also destined for the full-size F-150 ute and the Mustang, with the sporty coupe and convertible also set for BlueCruise.

First introduced on the US-spec 2025 Ford Explorer, FDE works with a large 13.2-inch touchscreen and can employ various voice assistants including Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant.

Natural voice commands are also unlocked, while third-party apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze can for the first time be displayed on the instrument cluster.

Combined with a Vivaldi web browser, Ford will also equip all cars with a wireless Bluetooth keyboard to use when parked.

FDE also supports wireless gaming; it can connect with Bluetooth controllers and allow users to play games available from the Google Play store.

Finally, FDE includes a 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and can connect to up to 10 devices.

Ford has also developed the system to work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly and operate its new 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

BlueCruise, meanwhile, is available with Ford Co-Pilot 360. It works with cameras and radars to detect road conditions and relies on high-definition maps to determine the vehicle’s location.

Allowing the driver to take their hands off the wheel at highway speeds, BlueCruise currently works on more than 210,000km of roads in North America and around 130,000km of highways in Europe.

The system uses a driver-facing camera to monitor the driver’s attention and alertness; it will prompt the driver to take back control if it thinks they are distracted.

In the US BlueCruise is offered as part of a subscription. It costs $700 ($A1100) per year if you select the option from new, or $75 per month ($A118) or $800 ($A1250) per year afterwards.

Currently, Ford has yet to successfully apply for regulatory approval to use BlueCruise in Australia, but it might be timed for the facelifted Ranger’s introduction.

Speaking to Ford Authority, senior Ford executive Doug Field said: “Software can sit in several types of electrical layouts and, in our plan, we’ll innovate within a layout that draws from our existing platform instead of building a whole new one.

“For example, we will be able to take our very successful Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience that we’ve launched in the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus and Navigator to many more products like Mustang, Bronco, Ranger, and F-150.”

Confusingly, Ford’s existing SYNC4 system is tipped to be used in the latest Ford Ranger PHEV as well as the Ranger Super Duty – both utes will be the last to use the software and hardware that was first introduced back in 2019.

Ford has not confirmed when exactly it will roll out the new tech, but it’s thought it could be as soon as the tail end of next year as the all-new Ford Ranger replacement doesn’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au