With its newly unveiled Z Kaze concept, Nissan is paying tribute to the 1990s. The car was unveiled at ZCon in Phoenix, Arizona, a gathering of the hardest-core Z enthusiasts in the country. Nissan says the Z Kaze “unlocks a new era of sports car nostalgia,” recalling an era when it was the darling of the tuner community with its unassailable lineup of agile, affordable, and aftermarket-ready sports cars.
The most notable nostalgia feature of the Z Kaze is its T-top roof, an option that appeared with the 280ZX and that hasn’t been seen on the model since the Z32. Kaze means “wind” in Japanese, and Nissan designers said they envisioned a summer drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. Removable roof panels were everywhere in the 80s and 90s, even appearing on compacts like the Nissan NX, but essentially disappeared from the market in the early 2000s.
And as if that wasn’t 90s enough, Nissan slathered the Z Kaze with a striking Pacific Teal finish, accentuating California’s brightly colored Tuner Era aesthetic. Its gleaming white interior perfectly matches 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 that the design team sourced and restored for the project. We like the fact that it wasn’t just a quest to slap on the biggest new wheels possible but something with golden era heritage, with connections to legends like the 400R.
A GReddy Supreme SP exhaust, Seibon vented carbon-fiber hood, and roll call on the windshield are SEMA staples. A black ducktail hearkens back to the sports models of the S30 Z. And while fender flares are an old school touch, these scream modern Rocket Bunny style. Something had to be done to accommodate the 10J front, 11J rear wheels though.
While we wouldn’t hold our breaths for it to enter production, it’s nice to see Nissan do something fun for a change. After ZCon, the Z Kaze will travel to Long Beach, California for display at the Japanese Classic Car Show on October 3 (coupon code available for one more day).
Additional Images:
Images courtesy of Nissan.
