LOS ANGELES - What's this, an LCD display in a Mustang? The original pony car, the Ford Mustang, in its fifth decade shows a technology savvy side with its 2010 models. The center stack and console are now home to a navigation system, iPod adapter, and Bluetooth. The makeover that began in 2005 with the nicely redesigned exterior now has been completed with a thoroughly modern cockpit and a further reworked exterior. Plus the ability to manage MP3 players 10 years after they hit the market. Gone are styling gimmicks such as molded plastic faux steering wheel bolts, giving way to upscale materials and barely visible dashboard seams. Most Mustangs get Sync, the Microsoft-Ford partnership that provides a USB jack for iPods, Zunes, and memory keys; Bluetooth for cellphones and some music players; and voice recognition. Plus you can order the excellent Xanavi touchscreen navigation system with Sirius TravelLink (traffic information, weather, movie listings, sports scores) and a backup camera. In other words, a fully modern cockpit in a car that looks like it stepped out of the 1960s.

A bit about the rest of the car: Ford is finally offering life-saving electronic stability control on Mustang and it's standard; traction control that used to be optional on the old V6 is now standard across the board. If you do stupid things in a Mustang, odds are better that you'll live to tell about it. Mileage averages aroud 20 mpg. I drove the outgoing and the upcoming (spring 2009) model Mustangs on some of LA's most famous twisty canyon roads such as Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon Road. There's a big difference. Noise insulation is vastly improved, so much that Ford uses an induction tube to pipe small amounts of engine noise into the cockpit. Handling is decent and not harsh on twisty roads that are relatively smooth. But going over speed bumps at low speed entering a parking area for a restaurant, the suspension turned vicious and hammered virtually all the road shock through our seat cushions. If this happens to you, just hope your date isn't applying lipstick at the time.

I've driven previoius Mustangs on racetracks and at Ford's proving grounds and I think some of Mustang's handling issues stem from the use of a sold (not independently sprung) rear suspension. Take a bumpy corner under throttle and it's unsettling at best and in some cases may alter your intended trajectory. Prices start at $22,000 and go up, up, up. The 2010 models can be had with V6 or V8 engines and five-speed automatic or manual gearboxes.

The pony car - the Mustang, the pending Chevrolet Camaro, or the new Dodge Challenger - is an acquired taste. During their peak years, Richard Nixon was in the White House. While it's still a bit crude in the suspension department, the rest of the 2010 Mustang has come a long way. Unlike many of the polished but indistinguishable sport sedans that other buyers have gravitated to, the Ford Mustang continues to stand out. For people who want a retro-look vehicle and modern technology, the Mustang is worth a look.

Bottom line: Ford recognizes drivers who like retro cars and retro suspensions also have cell phones and iPods. The 2010 Mustang scratches both itches.