Nissan unveiled the Z Kaze concept, a retro-inspired variant of its modern Z sports car featuring a functional T-top roof design reminiscent of 1990s models.
The concept, named after the Japanese word for “wind,” made its debut at ZCON in Phoenix, Arizona. It showcases a distinctly nostalgic aesthetic, including a paint scheme evoking the 1990s era and authentic T-top panels that recall the automaker’s 300ZX generation. Plucking a Z off the assembly line, Nissan crafted a concept car that not only shows up for duty in a tremendously ’90s paint shade but also includes a popular option from the time: T-tops. Alert readers will recall such a configuration was available on Z cars decades ago.
While T-top configurations were popular decades ago, they were often criticized for leaking and reducing cargo space when removed. Despite these historical drawbacks, the Z Kaze concept adopts the design as a stylistic choice rather than a practical one. This author realizes he’s looking to the past through a set of deeply tinted rose-coloured glasses, acknowledging that T-tops might be remembered fondly but often leaked like a screen door on a submarine and ate up valuable cargo space when stored away for open-air driving.
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Retro Details and Modern Touches
The Z Kaze concept blends vintage styling cues with contemporary performance elements. It features a vented carbon-fiber hood, fender flares, and a custom carbon-fiber aerodynamic body kit. The wheels are genuine 18-inch Nismo LMGT2 rims, restored to factory specifications, adding authenticity to the throwback theme.
The concept will remain on display at ZCON through Saturday before traveling to the Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, California.
