IS NEW FORD GLOBAL PERFORMANCE CHIEF JOST CAPITO A SIGN?

[Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here]

The Associated Press is reporting that Ford Motor Company has named Jost Capito to the new position of director of global performance vehicles and motorsport business development.

Capito used to be in charge of Ford's European performance vehicle operations.

At least it's better than when Henry Ford II purged nearly of the U.S. racing and "muscle parts" operations after some stormy Congressional testimony in 1970.

Instead it reminds of when Michael Kranefuss was brought over from Ford's German operations during the economic/energy crisis of the early 1980s to jumpstart Ford's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO).

Capito's appointment, however, may not bode well for continued development of V8 engines. Europeans tend not to be as in love with V8 sound and fury. For example, Michael Kranefuss mostly ignored FoMoCo's proud "Total Performance" traditions and bet SVO's budding street car capital on a pricey turbo four-cylinder Mustang --the oft-forgotten 1984-86 Mustang SVO -- instead of V8s.

He bet wrong.

However, Kranefuss later became so Americanized that he co-owned a NASCAR team in his post-FoMoCo retirement days.

Capito's rise could mean that the WRC-styled Focus RS is on a fast track to America.

What will it mean for Mustang? Capito is most certainly familiar with America's pony car, and its recent European racing successes in the FIA GT3 championship.

But does he UNDERSTAND the heart and soul of Mustang and SVT?

It will be interesting to see how Capito works with Brian Wolfe, Carroll Shelby, Jack Roush and other luminaries of FoMoCo's American performance operations