A frame and soft top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members (16, 18) extending therefrom and a crossmember connecting the side members substantially adjacent the rear of the driver passenger compartment, said frame and soft top assembly comprising: a pair of side rails (28, 30) operably attached to said side members of said vehicle; a pivotal sunroof soft top portion including a pair of pivot arms (36, 38) pivotally connected to said side rails, where pivoting the pivotal sunroof soft top portion moves said soft top between a closed position and an open position; a front bow member operably connected to said pivot arms and adapted for releasable attachment to said windshield frame for opening and closing of said pivotal sunroof soft top portion; a rear bow member operably connected to said pair of side rails; an intermediate bow member, said intermediate bow member being articulatingly connected between each of said side rails (28, 30) and said pivot arms (36, 38) via a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm, one of said linkage arms being operably connected to said pivot arm and a peripheral end of said intermediate bow member and the other of said linkage arms being operably connected to said side rail; a second fabric assist bow member articulatingly connected for deployment between said intermediate bow member and said rear bow member by way of a third pivotal fabric assist linkage and a fourth fabric assist linkage, said third fabric assist linkage being connected to said one of said first and second linkage arms and said fourth fabric assist linkage being pivotally connected to said side rail (28,30); characterized by a lift assist mechanism comprising a first and second gas cylinder (76, 78) including respective first and second actuation shafts (80, 82) received in first and second cylinder bodies which are connected in force opposition between said fourth fabric assist linkage and said side rail (28,30) such that one of said gas cylinders (76,78) is compressed when said soft top is down and the other of said gas cylinders (76,78) is extended, wherein when said soft top is opened the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to said fourth fabric assist linkage assisting said soft top in an opening direction and said other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing said soft top the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing said soft top assembly. a pair of side rails (28, 30) operably attached to said side members of said vehicle; a pivotal sunroof soft top portion including a pair of pivot arms (36, 38) pivotally connected to said side rails, where pivoting the pivotal sunroof soft top portion moves said soft top between a closed position and an open position; a front bow member operably connected to said pivot arms and adapted for releasable attachment to said windshield frame for opening and closing of said pivotal sunroof soft top portion; a rear bow member operably connected to said pair of side rails; an intermediate bow member, said intermediate bow member being articulatingly connected between each of said side rails (28, 30) and said pivot arms (36, 38) via a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm, one of said linkage arms being operably connected to said pivot arm and a peripheral end of said intermediate bow member and the other of said linkage arms being operably connected to said side rail; a second fabric assist bow member articulatingly connected for deployment between said intermediate bow member and said rear bow member by way of a third pivotal fabric assist linkage and a fourth fabric assist linkage, said third fabric assist linkage being connected to said one of said first and second linkage arms and said fourth fabric assist linkage being pivotally connected to said side rail (28,30); characterized by a lift assist mechanism comprising a first and second gas cylinder (76, 78) including respective first and second actuation shafts (80, 82) received in first and second cylinder bodies which are connected in force opposition between said fourth fabric assist linkage and said side rail (28,30) such that one of said gas cylinders (76,78) is compressed when said soft top is down and the other of said gas cylinders (76,78) is extended, wherein when said soft top is opened the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to said fourth fabric assist linkage assisting said soft top in an opening direction and said other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing said soft top the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing said soft top assembly.