A folding top for a cabriolet vehicle, and which includes a top linkage and a top cover. The top linkage may be adjusted for movement between a closed position and an open position via a roof kinematic system. The roof kinematic system is configured as a four-bar linkage kinematic system having a first link, a second link, and a drive member to drive the first link.

An openable roof includes an expandable and retractable awning frame, and an awning cloth for covering the outside of the awning frame. The awning frame is provided with an awning bow which supports the awning cloth when the awning frame is expanded. The awning bow includes a pair of left and right leg portions extending in up and down directions, and an upper side portion which connects between upper ends of the leg portions in a vehicle width direction. Each of the leg portions of the awning bow is formed with two or more bent parts. At least one pair of the bent parts on each of the leg portions are configured such that moments generated in the awning bow due to a tensile force exerted from the awning cloth when the openable roof is in an expanded state act in such directions as to cancel out each other.

Soft top assembly which is linkage free between fabric management bows. A combination of a predetermined plurality of pivots, including at least one predetermined cooperative biasing pivot, dampens the movement of the soft top and provides an assist when moving between closed and predetermined open positions. Safety catches can be used if desired. An arm goes over center to lock the soft top assembly open even if there is no catch to hold the soft top in a sunroof open position. Front arm members can have an over-center position that substantially locks down the soft top in the open sunroof position from going backward until upward pressure is placed on the frame and then the soft top pivots back with an assist. A four-bar link system more easily moves the soft top to a stowed position with another push upward where a clock spring pivot biases the parallelogram frame back.