This year, a range of Japanese brands are cleaning up and taking the top spots on the Consumer Reports and Auto Reliability Survey. Toyota’s three brands - Scion, Toyota, and Lexus - swept the top spots. When it comes to car reliability, no manufacturer can compare to Toyota. The Toyota Prius C earned Consumer Reports’ top overall score.

The Toyota brands were followed by Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura - all Japanese brands. Of the 90 Japanese models reflected in the Consumer Reports Survey, 86 scored average or better, with 35 earning the highest rating.

Of European cars, Audi is by far taking the lead, moving up 18 spots from last year into eighth place. This makes Audi the most reliable European make and the top non-Japanese brand.

Wondering about domestic brands? While they aren’t topping the list this year, there are some U.S. brands that are standing out. Cadillac is currently the top U.S. brand, moving up 14 spots from last year. The CTS Coupe was rated the most reliable domestic car. Several other GM brands moved up in ranking as well, including Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC.

Next time you are in the market for a new vehicle, make sure you check out the latest Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey for a complete vehicle ranking.

General Motors plans to introduce the industry’s first front center air bag; an inflatable restraint designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

This new air bag, known as the front center air bag, will be introduced on the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse in the 2013 model year.  The new feature will be standard on all Enclave models and Acadia and Traverse models with power seats.

The front center air bag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle.

The air bag is designed to provide restraint during passenger-side crashes when the driver is the only front occupant, as well as act as an energy absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver- and passenger-side crashes.  The air bag is also expected to provide benefit in rollovers.

GM found that far-side impact crashes, which the front center air bag primarily addresses, accounted for 11% of belted front occupant fatalities in non-rollover impacts between 2004 and 2009.  “No other air bag in passenger vehicles today offers the type of restraint and cushioning this air bag is designed to provide for front occupants,” said Scott Thomas, senior staff engineer in GM’s advanced restraint system.

“The front center air bag has real potential to save lives in side crashes,” said Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “GM should be commended for taking the lead in this important area.”

Labor Day weekend is one of the best times of the year to buy a new car.  New models are rolling in and dealers are offering incentives to buyers to get their older models off the lots.  CNN Money put together a list of the best Labor Day car deals for 2011 and we at CarLocate want to pass the deals onto you.  You can find dealers offering these sales here on CarLocate.com as well as research the vehicles and find ones in your area.

Top 7 Labor Day Car Deals:

2011 Chrysler 300 - $2,000 rebates, plus an extra $1,000 for owners of a competitors’ vehicle. You can also get 0% financing for 36 months and no payments for 90 days

2012 Audi A7 – 1.9% financing for 36 months and 2.9% for 60 months

2011 Buick LaCrosse – 0% financing for up to 36 months and 1.9% for 60 months; alternatively you can get a $1,500 rebate

2011 Chrysler Town & Country - $2,000 rebate as well as an extra $1,000 on owners of a competitors’ vehicle; Chrysler is also offering “no payments for 90 days”

2011 Jaguar XF – 0% interest with a 60 month loan

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – On Crew Cab and Extended Cab trucks get up to $5,600 in rebates

2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon – 0.9% financing for 60-month