Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the facelifted Nissan Z finally addresses the car’s biggest design flaw. Its new nose gets rid of the large rectangular grille and replaces it with a sleek divided opening that’ makes it the best-looking iteration of the RZ34 yet. Nissan also introduced a new green inspired by a color option on the S30.
The new front fascia gets a trapezoidal intake that’s easier on the eyes, with a horizontal section that mimics the way an S30’s chrome bumper divided the old grille. Additionally, the lower section gets a more pronounced lower section that juts out like an old school air dam. Last but not least, the nose now gets a classic Z emblem instead of the Nissan hamburger, a throwback to the Zs of yore.
Furthering that classic vibe is the new Unryu Green color. It was inspired by the 907 Grand Prix Green of the the S30, also known as Racing Green or simply Dark Green in some markets. In Japanese, unryu means “dragon rising from the clouds”. The interior receives a tan option, a classic combo with the green.
Along with the facelift, the Fairlady Z also gets new wheels by Rays and updated larger-diameter shocks to improve damping. Under the skin Nissan made additional changes to improve cooling. You may recall there was an optional Z Customized front-end revealed in 2023 as a response to the stock grille’s unpopularity.
According to Nissan’s Hiroshi Tamura, that version experienced some cooling problems at high speeds because the design created turbulence and prevented air from entering the heat exchanger. For this facelift, they redesigned cooling ducts and relocated the ultrasonic sensors for proper cooling.
Overall, the front looks smoother, more organic, and much closer to an S30. The facelift is expected to go on sale in 2027 in Japan, but there’s no official word on when it may arrivie in the US.
Images courtesy of Nissan.
I have only seen one RZ34 in person. I felt that it looks much better in person than pictures can present. This new front end even looks great in photos. Nissan may have just finally got the modern Z’s look right. Great color combination also.
It does look great, but, it’s still lipstick on a pig of an outdated chassis, and it costs too much for what it brings to the table.
I’m very tired of this know‑nothing “outdated chassis” business that pops up every once in a while. The FM platform provides excellent suspension geometry, is aluminum‑intensive to save weight, and presents flexibility that also enabled the Q50/60, Skyline, and the GT‑R. The suspension tuning is flexible, continually improved, and as we’ve seen in the new NISMO Z (and by any of us who have actually modified and tracked an FM‑car) the capabilities are very high.
Be especially glad for the SLA front suspension because the alternative would have been a cheap strut, with its inherently poor geometry.
The next‑gen of all of these vehicles will again be based on the FM platform. And we are very lucky to have it because without it we wouldn’t have anything at all.
Amazing how small design changes can transform a car. Unfortunately the changes are unlikely to resurrect slumping sales.
Sales are up, and the issue sin the factory are solved.
When did we all agree to start calling radiators heat exchangers?
This looks great, major improvement. I still haven’t seen a single example on SoCal roads.
Not seeing one in SoCal? Now that is saying something. The only one I have see was on display at the Costco in Maui.
Yep, San Diego, Orange, LA, Imperial… not a single one.
Austin TX – one a week.
This is year-round weather here for sports cars. And we have lots of gathering spots near “hill country” roads. Sports car haven.
Yeah it snows all year and we only have flat, straight roads in SoCal.
Weird you’re seeing so many in Texas! I’d love to see more, and for Nissan to be rewarded for actually trying for a change.
(1) very very light speed limit enforcement, if any. Very high speed limits on major roads, including some with 85 MPH.
(2) great roads outside of town for sportscar club drives
(3) Very inexpensive 93 octane premium fuel here: $2.65/gal. And Buc-ees sells it for $1.65 if you buy a car wash!