For 2008, Volvo reinvents its hardtop convertible C70 with more horsepower, technology and some fine detailing.

Under the hood of the 2008 C70 is a nine-horsepower bump. The turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five now has 227 horsepower from 218 hp on the previous version. For the front driver, the customers can choose between a six-speed manual and a five-speed automatic gearbox.

The C70's folding hardtop mechanism is new for the model year. And instead of the aluminum trim of the first model year, the 2008 model uses Laminated Oak wood trim has been added to the center control panel, console and door handle surrounds. On the steering wheel are leather trim and the gearshift knob. For a more durable arrangement, the handbrake has been improved. Aside from this, the clock has moved - it is now seen on the information screen.

For better performance, handling and safety, Volvo also placed a standard tire-pressure monitoring system as well as improved air vents. On the hardtop convertible button, a brighter finish is definitely observable. Moreover, the Volvo "iron mark" has been added to the remote key fob - another distinctive feature from the car maker.

As to the paint colors, Ice White paint is now offered for the latest model, alongside Pearl White. The car also now comes with a premium Sovereign Hide leather trim.

To those who want to grab a 2008 car from this Swedish supplier, you can now budget the total cost as Volvo released pricing on many of its 2008 models.

The C30 and the new T6 turbo engine in the S80 sedan are introduced for the said year. For the T5 "Version 1.0.", the C30's pricing will start at ,700 while the "Version 2.0" has an MSRP of ,700, both having a turbocharged five-cylinder engine that yields 227 horsepower. Since the new T6 turbo in the S80 sedan is the major change for 2008, it definitely gets the major change on the engine. The T6 AWD model, whose price starts at ,045, comes with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that yields 285 hp. For the 3.2 front-wheel-drive version, prices remain at ,705. But the price for the all-wheel-drive S80 with V8 engine increases almost ,000 from ,350 to ,210.

From ,090 this year, the C70 for 2008 now costs ,240.

The prices of the aforementioned cars exclude the freight cost of 5.

Major reinventions plus a 9-hp increase to 227 hp are seen on the S40 and V50 wagon whose prices for 2008 begin at ,365 for the S40 and ,815 for the V50. As to the top AWD T5 versions of the two models, they are priced respectively at ,365 and ,565. The current V50 models have the price range of ,690 to ,190.

According to Volvo, their company will release next year the pricing for the 2008 V70 and XC70.

About Volvo

Based in Sweden, Volvo Group is a supplier of commercial transport solutions. They produce products such as trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications and aerospace components and provide financial services. Maker of quality Volvo oxygen sensor, Volvo was then an auto manufacturer that was founded on April 14, 1927 in the city of Gothenburg.

In Latin, Volvo means "i roll" combined from "volvere". In May 1911, the name Volvo was originally registered as a separate company within SKF AB and as a registered trademark along with the intention to be used for a special series of ball bearing. However, this idea was only used for a short period of time because the SKF decided to use "SKF" as the trademark for its entire bearing products.

In August 10, 1926, SKF Sales Manager Assar Gabrielsson and Engineer Gustav Larson set up the car-manufacturing business Volvo AB within SKF group. So in 1935, Volvo AB was introduced at the Stockholm stock exchange and SKF then decided to sell its shares in the company.

Volvo ÖV 4, the first series produced Volvo automobile, left the factory on April 14, 1927. In effect, this became the official date of Volvo's foundation.

A subcompact car that was produced by Mazda of Japan, the Mazda 323 is also called the Familia in its home country. It was manufactured from 1976 up until 2003. In the United States, it was originally known as the GLC, then the 323, and come 1990, it was then known as the Protégé. In another part of the globe, South Africa knows this vehicle as the Etude. These vehicles were built in Japan, and also they are assembled in other countries that include Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa, Colombia and New Zealand.

It has become a perennial favorite among US car magazines mainly because the model is well regarded for its spirited handling. Also, it had made a place in the automotive industry by being the first small Japanese car to cross over to the EPA "compact" class in 1990, the same time that it started to be recognized and known as the Mazda Protégé. It also became the basis of other vehicles by manufacturers that included the Ford Laser and Meteor in Asia, Australia, and other markets (this is known as the Mercury Tracer in the United States), and the Ford Escort.

In 1976, the first Mazda 323 rolled off the streets as a rear wheel drive model and was known in the United States as the Mazda GLC which actually stood for "Great Little Car". This was a version of the fourth-generation Japan-market Mazda Familia. The vehicle was made available then in different bodies: a five-door four-seat hatch, a three-door four-seat hatch, a five-door four-seat station wagon, a three-door four-seat station wagon, and a three-door two-seat van with an extended roof profile. It carried with it square sealed beam units on all models except the van, together with a general styling and mechanical upgrade.

The Mazda 323 is exquisitely designed and enjoys excellent reliability. It also has a dynamically styled 5-door hatchback. It is well-made, spacious and very reliable. Easy to drive and offers design features that are very detailed, the Mazda 323 has the best reliability in the automotive and automobile business. It has driving strength which is quite the usual and the norm running through the Mazda range. It also offers an excellent driving position. What makes the Mazda 323 have a smooth and light work to drive are its controls that are easily manipulated. Space is something that this vehicle can afford and there is quite more than enough space in the front and rear. It also features a forward folding backrest of the front passenger seat which could actually double as a picnic table that allows long loads to be carried in it.

Replacing the Mazda 323 in its line up is the Mazda 3. This time, this vehicle shares a platform with the current generation Volvo S40 and the new generation Ford Focus.

What are some of the cool new cars for 2010? Here's a description of the 5 coolest cars to come out in the upcoming year.

Any list of cool new cars would have to start would have to start with the 2010 Ferrari California. This car is a little different from the other high performance vehicles in the Ferrari stable. The common man will find this car much more approachable. But that doesn't detract from any of the Ferrari features. It still has plenty of speed and looks great.

On the other hand, if you are wanting a family oriented car, take a look at the Audi A-5 Sportback. It looks a like like the BMW 5 series. It has a 180 horsepower 2.0 liter turbocharged 1-4 engine. Also, it has a seven speed dual clutch transmission.

The 2010 Kia Forte is the third car on our list. This model replaces the Spectra in the competitive compact sedan market. The Forte is more dynamic looking than the Spectra featuring a distinct wedge shaped profile and a wider stance. One feature worth mentioning is the Forte has a huge trunk - 14.7 cubic feet which can be further exteded by lowering the split-folding rear seats. You can choose between cloth or leather seats in the nicely appointed cabin. You will also find a user friendly center stack, steering wheel mounted controls, standard Sirius radio, and Bluetooth.

The 2010 Suburu Outback is a more sports utility vehicle than wagon than ever before. That's because the Suburu designers were given free range to design the vehicle which has more changes than any update in the Outback's 15 year history. As a result, it has a nice looking unique body shell.

Finally, no list of 2010 cool new cars would be complete without a hybrid. The third generation Toyota Prius starts at ,000 and gets 51 miles per gallon. Toyota is billing it as "harmony between man, nature, and machine." And, the styling is awesome!

That is your list of the 2010 cool new cars.

A new dimension is explored by Mazda Motors Corporation by adding the Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) to its new Roadster lineup. This was done without withdrawing the driving comforts of the previous Roadster including its "Jinba Ittai" dynamic performance. The next level of refinement introduced by Mazda was launched to the automotive market this month.

It can be recalled that the Roadster has already won more than 30 globally-acclaimed awards. This has paved way for its international recognition. With this added spice called Power Retractable Hard Top, the lineup can now give higher comfort for both the conventional Roadster driving and the open-top sports car pleasure. Said new feature is made up of a light-weight material which has a one-touch electric control. The roof can also be folded away into the rear part of the seats and inside the wheelbase.

The root of Mazda MX-5 Miata was born to universal acclaim. It was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling two-seat convertible sports car. The very first Miata featured an easy-to-operate folding top. It can be folded in seconds by simply unzipping the plastic rear window, releasing the 2 windshield header latches and pushing the top back. The next generation of Miata introduced a simpler process. In this lineup, no unzipping was required to fold its top.

In the freshest generation of Miata, new hard top is incorporated to enjoy the mighty rays of the sun on the cockpit area. PRHT functions like a magic trick, one push of the button and it will disappear from sight. The convertible design of PRHT consists of 3 major parts - the front section, middle section and the rear window. Said parts complement Miata to yield suave operation.

Mazda Miata parts are designed to achieve the sophistication that the customers are expecting. In addition, Miata's trunk provides a 5.3 cubic feet capacity, center locking handle and minor suspension adjustments to sustain the design of PRHT.

Miata MX-5 comes with 2 new exterior colors - the Stormy Blue Mica and Highland Green Mica. These colors have replaced Winning Blue Metallic and Nordic Green Mica.

Most of us are exhausted after work. Not just physically exhausted, but mentally and emotionally as well. Unfortunately, we tend to bring the stress of work home with us and that leaves us feeling completely drained. When we feel this way we are not productive at home and we tend to snap and act cross toward family members. So what can we do to help relieve the stress we acquire during the work day so we can have a pleasant home life?

Use your commute. If you drive to and from work, many times the traffic can only add to your frustration and stress. There are several different ways that you can help to reduce commuter stress. If it is possible, consider using mass transit instead of driving yourself. You can use the commute time to read or listen to music - both of which can be very calming activities. No matter what, don't use your commute home to do more work. This is your time to make the transition from work to home - use it wisely! If mass transit isn't an option, try changing your driving route to something less congested. Also consider what you listen to on the way home. Stay away from news or talk radio and even some music stations. All the talking and commotion from ads can cause you to feel agitated. Instead listen to relaxing music - perhaps jazz or new age. Listen to something that makes you feel relaxed, but not sleepy! You still need to drive home! Unwind at home. When you get home don't instantly throw yourself into a project or home chores. Go to a quiet room and read, meditate or just lie down for a while. It is amazing how recharged you will feel if you take a short nap after a stressful day. Your mind needs some time to switch gears and decompress. By spending even 15 minutes in a quiet area free from noise and chaos you can have that time to regroup and start fresh. Exercise. When you are feeling stressed and anxious you have excess energy. The best way to release that energy is through exercise. Go for a walk or a run. Ride a bike or throw a ball with your kids. You will be releasing the pent up stress energy and doing something that is good for your body at the same time. Avoid harmful substances. Many people use alcohol or other substances for stress relief. While these things may help for a while, you run the risk of becoming dependent and then you have another set of issues. Alcohol may make you think you are relieving the stress, but you are actually avoiding it. When the effects of the alcohol wears off the issues will still be there. It is better to confront your stress head on rather than avoid it. In addition to alcohol, cigarettes are a way to find stress relief. However, like alcohol you run the risk of addiction and the added stress of health problems later in life. Eat healthy. A common way to deal with stress is to eat. Unfortunately, people don't usually choose fruits and vegetables to snack on when they are stressed! It is the salty and sweet treats that we crave. Make sure you have a good selection of healthy snacks on hand both at home and at work. Tuck an apple or banana in your bag to eat on the way home. If you have a healthy snack close at hand you are less likely to binge on junk.

Everyone faces stress during their workday. You don't have to change jobs or feel stressed all the time to deal with it. Just practice these simple stress relief techniques and you will find the peace and serenity you crave.

I am writing this soft tonneau cover review to help people out who are looking for a soft tonneau cover but do not know exactly what they want or what is available. There may be more options out there then you are aware of.

The most common soft tonneau cover, probably because of the low price factor, would be the soft roll up covers such as those made by Extang. They have more models available than any other manufacturer. Of course there are other manufacturers with very popular models such as Lund Genesis and Truxedo.

These manufacturers have great products and like any other product , the price you choose to pay determines the premium quality and or the different options or design you may want. There are a lot out there and a few different designs.

Some of the different designs of the soft tonneau cover are the roll up which rolls up to the back of the cab to allow you complete access to your truck bed. Some of the more cheaper models you will have to store the bows once you roll up the cover. The bows are the part of the cross frame which support the tarp. Some of the better designs have the bows integrated into the tarp so they roll up with the tarp very quickly and neatly. Some have more arched bows with the so called arched wagon effect. Others have a flatter and more low profile look. It is a matter of preference. Some say the arched bows ward off rain and snow better while some of the flatter designs do very well at keeping the rain off your cargo.

There are different sealing systems available and I am about to reveal what they are with this soft tonneau cover review. There are models that use snaps to seal the tarp to a frame which is secured to the truck rails. Other designs include Velcro which is becoming very popular and moe appreciated than the cumbersome snaps. Although the Velcro can become worn over time. Another sealing system available is a type of tongue that pushes into a groove. This type of system works well and it does not take long at all to fasten.

Extang has come up with a new model called the Revolution which has a different type of sealing system than any other manufacturer. It just uses integrated tension sides to keep it sealed up. It is a low profile flat designed truck bed cover.

Other types of truck bed covers I want to include in this soft tonneau cover review are the hinged soft covers such as the Extang Fulltilt and the hinged by Lund Genesis. These covers lift up from the back of the truck bed on hinges which are located near the cab end of the truck bed. This type of cover is great for quick easy opening and closing of your tonneau. It is not so good if you haul tall objects often . You would have to remove the cover to do so.

Another design I want to mention is the folding soft tonneau cover. Extang produces the Trifecta which folds up in the three sections toward the cab of the truck. You can hold the cover completely opened with cargo straps that are included. Lund also offers the Tri-fold which is much the same idea as the Trifecta. One last cover I wish to mention is the Deuce by Truxedo which has one section that folds right behind the cab. This would be great for getting at tools and such quickly.