Rental car company Hertz is looking to the government for enforcement on the repair of recalled vehicles before they are returned to the rental lot and offered to the public.

Currently, the largest rental car company in the industry has an internal policy requiring all recalled vehicles to be immediately fixed before being rented out again. But not all rental car companies abide by that belief. As a result, there are plenty of rental cars out there on the road that have been recalled but never brought in to be repaired.

So long as a vehicle isn’t on their lot to be rented out, that company is losing money… and most businesses aren’t in the business to lose money.

Unfortunately NHTSA can only oversee automotive manufacturers currently, but has been investigating the rental car industry to discover that many highly demanded vehicles are often rented out despite not being repaired. This is a bold move from Hertz, and as much as we’d like to believe that they’re doing it to enhance the general public’s safety, it’s more likely that they’re looking for a way to level the playing field while looking like the good guys.

Nonetheless, everyone should benefit from such government oversight. Less possible risk of injury to the customer, which in turn means no lawsuits like what Enterprise had to deal with when two women died due to a recalled vehicle being rented out.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

We aren’t sure if the press shots for the 2012 Chrysler 200 Convertible are supposed to be ironic, but the lush shots of the 200 cruising through Miami, one of the top vacation spots in the world, are entirely appropriate.

While the motoring press loved the 200 about as much as the Ebola virus, and while the new car is supposedly a step above the old one, that’s not saying much. Hopefully the redesigned interior and 3.6L Pentastar V6 make this car suitable for consumption outside the Hertz parking lot.

For more information on the Chrysler 200, such as news, information and discussions, please visit http://www.200forums.com/

Gallery: Chrysler 200 Convertible

[Source: Autoblog]

The new Chrysler 200 is reportedly set to add another trim level to its lineup, with an emphasis on sportier handling and more agressive looks. Dubbed the 200S, the new car will echo the Chrysler 300S, a trim level offered on the larger 300 cars that bridges the gap between the standard 300C and the rowdy 300C SRT-8.

Although Chrysler hasn’t confirmed any specifications, except it to shed the 200′s discrete, rental lot looks for some bigger wheels, a lowered suspension and possibly a body kit.

[Source: Allpar]

For more information on the Chrysler 200, such as information, pricing and the latest news, please visit http://www.200forums.com.

General Motors is hoping that their next Chevrolet Impala, due in 2014, will be looked at as more than just fodder for the rental car lot. With a new platform shared with the Buick Lacrosse, the next Impala, due in 2014, should represent a significant jump in both style and performance – although based on the current car, that’s not saying too much.

The report in Automotive News also points to a possible rear-drive performance sedan for Chevrolet, which would almost certainly be based on the rear-drive Holden Commodore platform. The car would also be slated for a 2014 release, and one Chevrolet insider told Automotive News that “we are going back to the essence of what Chevrolet was and stood for — well-designed, beautiful, sculptured pieces, with lots of customer value.”  Chevrolet is selling a Holden model to police fleets as the Chevrolet Caprice, but sales to the public are not planned at this time.

[Source: Automotive News]

For such a poorly built and engineered car, the Chrysler PT Cruiser was well regarded by many. Consumers loved its retro styling (well, for a little bit at least), Car and Driver named it to its 10 Best List and it won North American Car of the Year.

Despite the accolades, it wasn’t much fun to drive, hardly eligible for the adjectives “well-built” and “reliable” and had the turning circle of the RMS Queen Mary 2.

Consumers were able to ignore its flaws, and the PT Cruiser sold 1.3 million units in 11 years. Now the PT Cruiser is finally being laid to rest, and the last car is set to roll off the Toluca, Mexico, assembly line.

The PT Cruiser has been granted a couple stays of execution previously (namely because the car was a money maker for Chrysler, with the tooling and platforms paid off long ago). But the PT has been growing long in the tooth, and is being euthanasia to make way for another retro compact car, the Fiat 500.

We have little doubt that the 500 will be better in every single respect, but nonetheless, Autoguide salutes the PT Cruiser for 11 solid years as cheap transportation and a more interesting alternative when it comes time to select a rental car.

[Source: Left Lane News]

The Chrysler Sebring convertible is possibly one of the most maligned cars on sale today. Known for its less than stellar driving dynamics, build quality, styling and, well, just about everything else, the Sebring convertible really only has price going for it – and that’s exactly what its place in Chrysler’s lineup is guaranteed for the foreseeable future, at least in fleet sales.

Apparently, rental fleets made up a big portion of Sebring droptop customers (hardly a surprise) and the low transaction price makes them a favorite of rental fleets across the Sun Belt states. Fortunately, the Sebring will see improvements like refreshed styling, chassis tweaks, an all-new V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic gearbox, though we have to say, the current car has left an indelible impression on us to the point where we’re skeptical of anything called “Sebring”, even the race track.

[Source: Allpar]