Sometimes, the symbol of what a thing means to people is more powerful than what it actually is. Cars, for example, live well past the romance of that first or second version that catches the public's fascination. The thrill may well be gone, but the memories remain, growing more poignant and misty with each passing year. Then one day the automaker that built that revered automobile comes out with another version. A better version - one that harkens back to that passion in paint and fenders. And when that happens, you can't keep the buyers off dealer lots.

So it goes for Ford and its Mustang. Forty years after the original and more than a decade since the last major redesign, the gallop is back and so much better than the outgoing generation that we've named it the Autobytel Editors' Choice for Most Improved Car of 2005.

From top to bottom, the new 2005 Ford Mustang is a vast improvement over the outgoing model. It's a vehicle that is tantalizing in its imagery and delicious in the sights and sounds it conjures. Indeed, the best thing about the 2005 Ford Mustang is that everyone gets the very best features of the car - the exterior styling, interior design and performance of both the V6 and V8 versions, for example, are top notch. From base V6 to GT premium, not much of what matters changes.

And while the GT delivers an extraordinary amount of power, the standard Mustang is no weakling: the base version of the Mustang, priced at slightly more than $19,000, gives customers a 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine with a five-speed manual transmission. That's nice, but this is nicer: the GT trim is priced at under $25,000, and features a 300-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8 engine. On the road, the Mustang handles nicely and provides a sporty driving experience - a sure upgrade, even though the rear axle has forfeited its independence.

The exterior design is an exercise of looking back and walking forward: the 1967 Mustang fairly shouts from the stance of this vehicle, though the car itself is unique and certainly not a copy of the past. The interior is simple, clean and well designed. With simplicity comes style, a fact the Mustang's interior drives home.

All in all, the 2005 Ford Mustang represents a remarkable revision to a classic American car.

- Brian Chee