Ford boasts that the Mustang has been America's favourite muscle car for 45 years on the trot - but the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro, which have very recently hit US roads, have threatened that.

That's sent Ford back to the drawing board, and while the new Mustang, revealed at the LA Auto Show starting this week, is largely the same as the model that came into play in 2005, some freshening up has stopped it from being trampled over by the new pack.

Note the neater, cleaner styling that gives the 'Stang a squatter, leaner look - much like the trick Nissan has pulled with the new 370Z. It also reduces the drag coefficient of the 4.6-litre V8 pony by seven per cent, while the eight-cylinder engine's power is up to 311bhp and torque is 325lb ft.

The suspension has been improved, too - the springs have been retuned, and there are new dampers - to try and address the ride and handling issues that were one of the few downsides to Mustang ownership previously. ESC now comes as standard across the range, although happily it's a stability control system that can be easily and fully turned off.

No word on prices or on sale dates, but once again it's highly unlikely that Ford's coolest car will make it our way. It's refreshing to talk about which of the big three US companies makes the manliest muscle car though, as opposed to which one is going to go bust first. What would you pick, Challenger, Camaro or Mustang? Tell all on the forum.