Nissan has put a lift-off roof back on the Z, at least for one car. Posted on Nissan’s US newsroom, the Z Kaze concept was revealed at ZCON, the annual convention of the Z Car Club Association in Phoenix, Arizona. Its defining feature is a custom-engineered T-top roof, built to bring back the open-air feel of earlier Z cars.
“Kaze” is Japanese for wind. Nissan says the car is a passion project by its product planners and designers, guided by the idea of a summer drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway.
Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president and chief product and planning officer at Nissan Americas, said the concept celebrates Nissan’s iconic open-top sports cars and the ’90s tuning culture that helped put Nissan and NISMO on the map.
That second half of the brief explains most of the details. The Z Kaze wears Pacific Teal paint, which Nissan says reflects ’90s sports car culture, and the modifications nod to the period’s import-tuner scene: a lightweight vented carbon fibre bonnet, fender flares, and a custom carbon fibre aero kit.
Nissan says the changes balance the Z’s familiar styling with a more aggressive stance. The wheels carry the most nostalgia. They are an original set of 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 forged, multi-piece wheels, which are no longer in production, so the product planners sourced a set and had it restored and rebuilt. They measure 10 inches wide at the front and 11 inches at the rear.
The cabin avoids the usual concept-car approach of black trim. Instead, Nissan fitted custom white leather-appointed seats to make the interior stand out with the roof off, plus carbon fibre accents. Because the roof panels come out, the seats also have Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers, which Nissan says give occupants an enveloping sound for their playlists.
Under the skin, the twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 carries parts from the tuning company GReddy. These are a SUPREME SP exhaust system, a front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit and an Airinx air filter kit. The suspension features NISMO components. Nissan hasn’t published power figures for the concept.
This is a one-off show car, not a preview of a new trim. Jalopnik reports that it was on display at ZCON through 26 September and was due at the Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, California, on 3 October. The release doesn’t mention the Middle East or any regional appearance. Nissan’s most recent retro-flavoured Z for the region is the Z Heritage Edition, which borrows GT-R-inspired styling.
Is the Nissan Z Kaze for sale?
Nissan describes it as a concept, built as a passion project by its product planners and designers. It hasn’t announced a price, a production version or availability in the UAE or elsewhere in the Middle East.
What engine does the Z Kaze use?
It uses the Z’s twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, fitted with a GReddy SUPREME SP exhaust, a front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit and an Airinx air filter kit. Nissan hasn’t released output figures.
What is a T-top?
It’s a roof layout with a fixed centre bar and two removable panels, one over each seat. That keeps more of the body structure than a full convertible. Nissan says the Z Kaze’s version is custom-engineered for the concept.
