Hybrid support

A FORMER director of the CIA has urged more than 850 senior bosses in the motor industry to embrace hybrid car technology.

The unusual appeal came during ex-CIA boss James Woolsey’s speech at the SMMT annual dinner in London this week.

James (pictured right) surprised the audience by explaining how he believed relying exclusively on oil for the world’s cars contributed directly to global terrorism.

He said that hybrid cars represented the best way of reducing oil consumption, tackling climate change and combating the terror threat.

Whether the motor industry executives present will take heed of the advice and embrace hybrid cars remains to be seen.

“Fascinating, thought-provoking and controversial,” was the guarded response on James’s talk from SMMT head of communications Nigel Wanacott.

See the February issue of Aftermarket for an in-depth look at hybrid car technology by technical expert Dave Garratt.