2026 Nissan Z Kaze Concept
By Lorenzo Bianchi September 24, 2026
Custom T top roof recalls earlier open roof Nissan Z sports cars.
Restored 18 inch NISMO LMGT2 wheels reinforce the 1990s tuner influence.
NISMO suspension and selected GReddy components modify the twin turbo V6 package.
Nissan used the 2026 ZCON gathering to show a different side of its current sports car with the 2026 Nissan Z Kaze Concept, a T top project built around open air driving, Z heritage and the visual language of 1990s tuner culture. The name “Kaze” means wind in Japanese, and the removable roof is the concept’s defining change.
Rather than treating the car as a preview of a production derivative, Nissan describes it as a passion project created by product planners and designers. The idea was shaped around the image of a summer drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway, while also referencing earlier open roof Z models.
Pacific Teal and a wider tuner inspired stance
The exterior makes its period references clear without replacing the basic proportions of the Nissan Z. Pacific Teal paint gives the car a distinctly 1990s character, while a vented carbon fiber hood, fender flares and a custom carbon fiber aerodynamic body kit sharpen the bodywork.
Those changes also give the Z Kaze a broader, more planted appearance. The most specific throwback detail is the wheel package. Nissan sourced and restored an original set of 18 inch NISMO LMGT2 forged multi piece wheels, measuring 10 inches wide at the front and 11 inches at the rear.
That choice matters because the LMGT2 wheels are no longer in production. Their use makes the concept feel less like a styling exercise assembled from new catalogue parts and more like a carefully built tribute to an earlier enthusiast scene.
White leather puts focus on the open cabin
Inside, Nissan moved away from the dark trim often used in concept cars. The Z Kaze uses custom white leather appointed seats, which stand out more clearly with the T top panels removed and help emphasize the open cabin.
Carbon fiber accent trim continues the performance theme without dominating the interior. The seats also incorporate Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers, intended to keep music close to the occupants when the roof is off.
NISMO suspension and GReddy hardware
The mechanical changes follow the same tuner culture theme. Nissan says the suspension has been thoroughly upgraded with NISMO components, although detailed suspension specifications were not included in the supplied material.
The twin turbo 3.0 liter V6 remains at the center of the package and is paired with selected GReddy components. These include a SUPREME SP exhaust system, a front mount air to air intercooler kit and an Airinx air filter kit.
A heritage concept rather than a production model
The Z Kaze is positioned as an expression of Nissan Z history, open roof driving and tuner culture rather than a new showroom variant. Nissan specifically states that the concept is not available for purchase.
It is scheduled to remain on display at ZCON in Phoenix, Arizona, through September 26, before appearing at the Japanese Classic Car Show on October 3. For now, the project reads as a design and engineering celebration of several different eras of the Z story rather than a confirmed preview of what comes next.