Nissan Z Kaze revisits the T-top

NISSAN has gone full throwback with the Z Kaze, a heavily modified one-off Z sports car concept unveiled at ZCON in Phoenix, an annual gathering hosted by the Z Car Club Association.

Named after the Japanese word for “wind”, the Z Kaze’s headline feature is a custom-engineered T-top roof, a first for the current seventh-generation Z which has never offered a removable panel roof (Ed: not including convertible versions) since the nameplate switched to a fixed-roof design with the 350Z.

T-tops previously featured on the 280ZX and both generations of 300ZX through the 1980s and ‘90s. Both panels use glass centre sections, keeping the cabin bright even with the roof fitted.

Nissan says the project was dreamed up and built by a team of North American product planners and designers, inspired by the idea of a drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway on a perfect summer day, and designed to tip its hat to all seven generations of Z that has a lineage stretching back to the original 1969 Fairlady Z.

“The Z Kaze concept celebrates some of Nissan’s most iconic open top sports cars, while recognising the ‘90s tuning culture that helped put Nissan and NISMO on the map,” said Nissan Americas senior vice president and chief product and planning officer Ponz Pandikuthira.

“This passion project combines Nissan’s engineering excellence, creativity and celebration of the brand’s heritage.”

Finished in a vivid Pacific Teal paint job, the Z Kaze leans hard into import-tuner styling of the period, with a vented carbon-fibre bonnet, flared guards and a full carbon-fibre aero kit comprising a front splitter, side skirts, a redesigned rear bumper, and a more prominent lip spoiler.

Filling out those widened arches are a set of genuinely rare 18-inch Nismo LMGT2 forged, multi-piece rims long out of production and highly sought after among Z enthusiasts.

Rather than reproduce them, Nissan’s team tracked down an original set and had them fully restored and rebuilt specifically for this car at 10 inches wide up front and 11 inches at the rear.

Inside, the concept swaps the usual dark concept-car trim for white leather-appointed seats with carbon-fibre accents and includes Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers designed to keep the music audible once the T-top panels come off.

The mechanical changes go beyond the cosmetic with Nismo-supplied suspension upgrades throughout while the Z’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 has been fitted with a selection of parts from legendary tuning brand GReddy, including a Supreme SP exhaust system, a front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit, and an Airinx air filter.

Nissan has not released any updated power or torque figures for the modified engine but the standard Z produces 298kW and 475Nm from the same base unit.

The Z Kaze remains on display at ZCON in Phoenix through Saturday, September 26, before heading to the Japanese Classic Car Show on October 3.

Nissan has been clear the car is a concept only and not confirmed for production, though Mr Pandikuthira has indicated enough enthusiast interest could change that.

“If there turns out to be enough interest in the model, we’re going to make that car happen,” he concluded.