Nissan Z Kaze: 1990s T-Top Nostalgia Returns to ZCON

The Nissan Z Kaze concept brings back the T-top roof, 1990s tuner styling and NISMO hardware in a one-off sports car unveiled at ZCON 2026.

Nissan brings the T-top back with the Z Kaze

Nissan has unveiled the Z Kaze concept at ZCON 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The one-off project combines modern Z performance with styling inspired by the brand’s open-roof sports cars and the tuner culture of the 1990s.

The most important feature is above the occupants.

Nissan created a custom-engineered T-top roof with removable panels. The design is meant to bring back the open-air feeling associated with earlier Z models, including the 280ZX and 300ZX.

The name also fits the concept. “Kaze” means “wind” in Japanese, a direct reference to the feeling Nissan wanted the roof to deliver.

The Z Kaze’s removable T-top roof is the centerpiece of the concept.

Nissan says the project was created by a team of product planners and designers as a passion project.

Their inspiration came from the idea of driving along California’s Pacific Coast Highway on a perfect summer day. That vision also influenced the concept’s Pacific Teal paint.

The design goes well beyond the roof.

A Z built around 1990s tuner culture

The Z Kaze wears a Pacific Teal exterior with a more aggressive body. Nissan added a vented carbon-fiber hood, wider fenders and a custom carbon-fiber aerodynamic kit.

Those changes give the Z a wider stance.

They also connect the concept to the import-tuner scene that influenced many Japanese performance cars during the 1990s.

The wheels are another major part of the theme. Nissan sourced an original set of 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 forged multi-piece wheels, then restored and rebuilt them specifically for the Z Kaze.

They measure 10 inches wide at the front and 11 inches at the rear.

The widened bodywork and restored 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 wheels give the Z Kaze its strong 1990s tuner character.

The concept also changes the cabin.

Nissan fitted the Z Kaze with custom white leather-appointed seats and carbon-fiber interior trim. The lighter upholstery creates a strong contrast with the Pacific Teal exterior and makes the open-roof layout more noticeable.

There is also a technology upgrade designed specifically for open-air driving.

The seats feature Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers. That setup is intended to keep the audio experience clear when the roof panels are removed.

GReddy and NISMO upgrade the performance hardware

The nostalgia theme continues underneath the body.

Nissan says the Z Kaze receives an upgraded suspension using NISMO components. The engine also receives a number of parts from performance specialist GReddy.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 is paired with a GReddy SUPREME SP exhaust system, a front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit and an Airinx air filter kit.

Nissan has not announced a specific horsepower figure for the concept.

That is important because the Z Kaze is a show car rather than a production model. Its upgraded components suggest a performance focus, but Nissan has not published a final output number for this particular build.

The rear of the Z Kaze adds a pronounced spoiler, carbon-fiber elements and the same restored NISMO wheel package.

The concept also connects modern Nissan performance with the brand’s previous open-top Z cars.

That history is important because the T-top was once a defining feature of the Z family. The new concept uses that idea as a starting point, then combines it with modern materials and 1990s-inspired tuning details.

The Z Kaze is not a production model yet

For now, Nissan has presented the Z Kaze as a one-off concept.

The company has not announced plans to put the T-top design into series production. The concept is instead being used to explore heritage, customization and enthusiast-focused design.

That distinction matters.

The Z Kaze shows what Nissan can create around the current Z platform, but it does not confirm a future production T-top Z.

The project will remain on display at ZCON in Phoenix through September 26. Nissan also plans to show the concept at the Japanese Classic Car Show later this year.

The Nissan Z Kaze brings together a T-top roof, Pacific Teal paint, carbon-fiber bodywork, restored NISMO wheels and GReddy hardware in one enthusiast-focused package.

It is a clear reminder that Nissan’s Z heritage can still be reinterpreted through modern engineering while preserving the character that made the sports car famous.