A T-top roof now sits on top of Nissan’s current twin-turbo Z. The result is the Nissan Z Kaze concept, a one-off built by Nissan’s own product planners and designers. It made its debut at ZCON in Phoenix in late September 2026, and Nissan says it is not for sale.
First, the name is simple. “Kaze” is the Japanese word for wind, which fits a car built to let the air in. Beyond the roof, the concept also wears a teal paint job, carbon-fiber body parts and a set of restored NISMO race wheels.
Nissan pitches the build as a nod to its open-top Z cars and to 1990s tuning culture. Still, the car starts as the production Z that Nissan sells today. Here is what Nissan changed, what it left alone and where the T-top idea comes from.
What the Nissan Z Kaze concept is
Nissan announced the car on September 23, 2026, in a press release from Nissan USA. The company showed it at ZCON, the Z Car Club Association’s convention, in Phoenix, through Saturday, September 26. According to Nissan, the concept is not available for purchase.
Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan Americas’ chief product and planning officer, described it in the release. “This passion project combines Nissan’s engineering excellence, creativity and celebration of the brand’s heritage,” he said.
As a result, it is a show car, not a preview of a new model. In fact, AutoGuide reports that Nissan has not indicated any plans to produce the T-top roof structure.
The T-top roof and the Pacific Teal body
Above all, the headline feature is the custom-engineered T-top roof. Carscoops describes it as two removable glass panels on either side of a central support beam. In other words, the panels lift out and the bar between them stays put.
Nissan then painted the car Pacific Teal. On top of that, it added a lightweight, vented carbon-fiber hood, fender flares and a custom carbon-fiber aero kit. Carscoops lists the kit as a front splitter, side skirts, a rear diffuser and a spoiler.
Next come the wheels. They are 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 wheels, which Nissan calls “authentic” and restored. Specifically, they measure 10 inches wide in front and 11 inches at the rear, according to Nissan.
Under the skin: a stock Z engine with GReddy parts
The Z Kaze keeps the production car’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. However, Nissan bolted on several GReddy parts. The list includes a SUPREME SP exhaust, a front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit and an Airinx air filter. Finally, NISMO suspension upgrades round out the hardware.
Nissan gave no power figure for the concept. Carscoops also notes that the company “was coy on performance specifications.” So the honest reference point is the regular car.
For 2026, Nissan’s own Z press kit lists the engine as the VR30DDTT, a 2,997cc twin-turbo V6. In the standard Z, it makes 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the Z NISMO version is rated at 420 hp and 384 lb-ft. The press kit also lists a six-speed manual and a nine-speed automatic, with the Z Sport priced from $42,970.
A cabin with white leather and headrest speakers
Inside, Nissan fitted custom white leather-appointed seats. Then it added carbon-fiber accent trim around the cabin. Carscoops adds that the white leather carries black accents.
In addition, the seats get Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers, according to Nissan.
Where the Z’s T-top idea comes from
Open roofs are not new to the Z, though. Nissan’s heritage collection lists the 1982 Fairlady 280Z-T 2-seater T-top, model code HS130. Nissan’s heritage page calls it “Japan’s first T-top.”
That car belonged to the second-generation S130 Z. It used an L28E 2,753cc inline-six, rated by Nissan at 155 PS (114 kW). Later, according to AutoGuide, T-tops appeared most notably on the Z31 and Z32 300ZX models of the 1980s and 1990s.
The Z32 link runs through Nissan’s current lineup, too. Nissan’s 2026 press kit says the Z Heritage Edition “pays homage to the fourth-generation Z sports car, the 300ZX ‘Z32.’” The Kaze, by contrast, goes after a different 1980s and ’90s feature: the removable roof.
Where to see the Z Kaze next
So far, Nissan lists one more public date for the concept. The car is due at the Japanese Classic Car Show on Saturday, October 31, 2026, according to Nissan’s release.
Carscoops reported a different date for that show, October 3. This story follows Nissan’s own release, which AutoGuide also matches. For now, Nissan’s release says the Z Kaze remains a concept only and is not available for purchase.
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This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.
