Nissan is bringing some serious nostalgia to the modern Z with the new Z Kaze concept, a one-off project unveiled at ZCON, the annual convention of the Z Car Club Association in Phoenix, Arizona. Created by a team of Nissan product planners and designers, the Z Kaze celebrates the open-top heritage of Nissan’s seven generations of Z cars while injecting a healthy dose of 1990s tuner culture into the formula.
The name Kaze, meaning “wind” in Japanese, is a reference to the concept’s defining feature: a custom-engineered T-top roof designed to bring back the open-air driving experience that was once synonymous with performance cars. The inspiration came from a simple idea, a spirited drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway on a perfect summer day.
“The Z Kaze concept celebrates some of Nissan’s most iconic open-top sports cars, while recognizing the ’90s tuning culture that helped put Nissan and NISMO on the map,” said Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president, chief product and planning officer, Nissan Americas.
A modern Z with ’90s attitude
Nissan finished the Z Kaze in Pacific Teal, a color chosen to capture the character of 1990s Japanese performance cars. The standard Z body has also been subtly reworked with a series of custom components.
The changes include a lightweight vented carbon-fiber hood, pronounced fender flares and a custom carbon-fiber aerodynamic body kit. Rather than completely reinventing the Z’s design, Nissan’s team focused on giving the car a wider, more aggressive stance while retaining its recognizable silhouette.
Perhaps the coolest detail is the set of wheels. The Z Kaze rides on 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 forged multi-piece wheels, a legendary design that has been out of production for years.
Nissan’s product planners tracked down an original set and had the wheels completely restored and rebuilt specifically for the concept. The 10-inch-wide front wheels and massive 11-inch rear wheels help give the Z Kaze its muscular stance.
White leather and an open-air cabin
Inside, Nissan went in the opposite direction from the dark interiors commonly seen on concept cars. The Z Kaze features custom white leather-appointed seats, putting the cabin firmly in the spotlight when the T-top panels are removed. Carbon-fiber trim adds a motorsport-inspired touch without overwhelming the more sophisticated interior.
The open-air experience even extends to the audio system. The seats incorporate Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers, allowing occupants to enjoy their music with the roof removed without sacrificing the immersive audio experience.
NISMO and GReddy under the skin
The Z Kaze isn’t just about appearance. Nissan upgraded the suspension with NISMO components, while the Z’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 receives hardware from legendary Japanese tuning company GReddy.
The upgrades include a GReddy SUPREME SP exhaust system, front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit and Airinx air filter kit.
The combination deliberately channels the tuning culture that surrounded Japanese performance cars during the 1990s, when aftermarket exhausts, intercoolers, wheels and suspension upgrades became an integral part of the enthusiast scene.
A tribute to the Z’s open-top heritage
With its T-top roof, wide stance, period-inspired wheels and modern performance hardware, the Z Kaze connects several chapters of Nissan’s performance history in a single car.
It also serves as a reminder that the Z has never been solely about outright performance. Personalization, cruising and the emotional connection between driver and machine have always been part of the formula.
The Nissan Z Kaze concept will remain on display at ZCON in Phoenix through Saturday, September 26, before heading to the Japanese Classic Car Show on October 31.
For Z enthusiasts, it’s a particularly appealing combination: a modern Z reimagined with the open-air character of its predecessors and the unmistakable attitude of Japan’s golden-era tuning scene.
