If you think the latest Nissan Z needs even more retro cues, here is the answer.
Retro-themed cars aren’t as pervasive in the automotive sphere as they used to be, but the latest Nissan Z is one of the exceptions. It brings a combination of cues from past Zs, but another feature that’s been dead for decades makes its way back with the new Nissan Z Kaze Concept: the classic T-tops.
The idea here is to essentially create a love letter to ’90s tuning cultures and all the awesome cars that era created, including the 300ZX. That car, much like the modern Z, had a twin-turbocharged V6 and instantly recognizable taillights, though the older car also had the open-roof experience. This concept resurrects that retro look, however, while also bringing in white Nismo LMGT2 wheels that have been out of production for nearly three decades. For this concept, at least, Nissan says its product planners sourced and restored an original set.
The Nismo Z Kaze Concept — ‘kaze’ is the Japanese word for wind — also brings in a carbon fiber aerodynamic kit, a vented carbon fiber hood, and bespoke fender flares to the standard production Z. Finally, to finish the look, designers conceptualized the Kaze Concept in Pacific Teal paint as another throwback to ’90s tuners.
Fundamentally, the Nissan Z Kaze Concept packs the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 as the regular car. You likely caught the GReddy side graphic, though, which hints at the aftermarket parts: a Supreme SP exhaust system, a front mount air-to-air intercooler kit and an Airinx air filter kit.
Nissan plans to show the Z Kaze at this weekend’s ZCON in Phoenix, Arizona. From there, it will head on to the Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, California on October 31. It’s unclear whether it will go into production, but if there’s enough positive feedback, it could happen.
