2018 Ford Mustang revealed

After an embarrassing leak yesterday, the updated 2018 Ford Mustang has officially broken cover, and its pinch-face design is not going down particularly well with critics or the public.

Sporting smaller, narrower headlights that almost shift the car away from its aesthetic heritage, the 2018 Mustang also features a more angular front fascia.

OK, so not everyone is going to love the design straight away and although it's not an all-new model, it might feel like one thanks to a brand-new 10-speed automatic transmission and more bite from the 5.0-litre V8 and 2.3-litre turbo four-pot engines.

The external changes see a pair of slimmer headlights and new upper and lower grille, a tweaked bonnet that repositions the heat-release vents and adds new LED fog lamps.

At the rear of the car there's a pair of redesigned LED tail-lights and a new bumper.

Completing the external updates, the EcoBoost Mustang now comes with a dual tip exhaust while the V8-powered Mustang GT gains a quad tip exhaust, part of a new active sports exhaust system.

A new 'performance' spoiler also hits the options list.

Inside, Ford says it has improved the quality of some of the materials used in the cabin and added a new hand-stitched wrap and knee bolster to the centre console.

The door handles, rings and bezels are now finished in aluminium.

Other updates include a new 12-inch virtual dashboard that can be customised -- although don't expect to stream motoring.com.au's Youtube videos on it. In the US the digital dash is optional, so you can have your analogue gauges if you wish.

There's also the option of a heated steering wheel for colder climates.

The biggest changes for the updated 2018 Mustang range have occurred beneath the skin however.

Both the four-pot EcoBoost and V8-powered GT gain retuned dampers, an additional support in the rear suspension rig and revised anti-roll bars that's all claimed to have sharpened response and improved handling.

A new MagneRide magnetic damper option is also introduced and claimed to optimise ride and handling in all driving conditions.

The 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine is expected to get a mild torque increase but the 5.0-litre V8 has been thoroughly reworked to provide extra power and better fuel economy. Ford hasn't said how much more mumbo we can expect from the eight-cylinder engine, but with changes that increase the compression ratio the company says the V8 now revs higher than the old car.

That alone should hike power to beyond the current Ford Mustang GT's 306kW.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the 2018 Ford Mustang facelift is both the EcoBoost engine and the new more powerful V8 can be combined with Ford's all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. The new state-of-the-art tranny is said to offer quicker shift times, better response and significantly reduced internal friction.

The 10 gears also allowed engineers to fit optimised gearing for both the turbo and V8 that's said to boost performance. Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles come as standard for manual override shifts.

The six-speed manual gearbox has also received an upgrade and its said to have been "totally redesigned" to include a new twin-disc clutch and dual-mass flywheel. The two changes are said to help manage the extra torque of the updated V8 and also help drivers modulate the clutch easier.

As well as the performance enhancements engineers have also introduced emergency autonomous braking that can detect pedestrians. A lane departure warning system, lane keeping assist and a driver alert system have also been introduced.

Finally, the tech upgrade also includes the introduction of Ford's latest SYNC Connect system with Ford Pass that, when combined with a new app, allows drivers to start, lock and unlock or locate their car remotely.

In the US the facelifted Mustang goes on sale September 2017. Unfortunately, our cars won't arrive Down Under until 2018 at the earliest, according to Ford Australia.

Until then, Ford says it will continue to sell the current Mustang for the rest of 2017 and into 2018.

The reason for the big delay in right-hand drive 2018 Mustangs for Australia, where there's still a long waiting list for the current model, is unclear. But back in October newswire Bloomberg reported Ford was forced to shut the Michigan factory where the Mustang is produced, following a 32 per cent sales decline in the iconic cruiser.

Back then it was reported that large incentives introduced by Chevrolet on its Camaro were responsible for the significant decline in demand and the idling of the Mustang plant.