Nissan Brings Back the '90s With a Retro T-Top Concept Car

Could it be? Is Nissan seriously previewing a T-Top version of the Z sports car?

Sadly, the answer is a big 'ol: NOPE.

Regardless, Nissan has pulled the wraps off a one-off homage to golden-era import tuner culture at the annual Z Car Club Association convention (ZCON). Dubbed the Z Kaze concept (taking its name from the Japanese word for wind) the project car reimagines the current-generation Z chassis with a remanufactured T-top roof structure, period-correct aftermarket hardware, and a targeted nod to 1990s Japanese domestic market (JDM) aesthetics.

Developed internally by a team of Nissan Americas product planners and designers, the concept shifts focus away from track-oriented lap times toward open-air grand touring and period tuner heritage.

T-Top Architecture and Exterior Styling

The focal point of the build is its custom open-roof layout. T-top configurations were a staple of past Z generations—most notably on the Z31 and Z32 300ZX models of the 1980s and 1990s—offering a middle ground between a rigid coupe and a full convertible.

To complement the open cabin, the design team selected a period-inspired Pacific Teal paint scheme. The exterior body modifications lean heavily into late-20th-century tuner aesthetics, featuring lightweight carbon fiber bodywork (including a vented hood, a bespoke aero kit, and subtle fender flares) that wraps around the widened arches. To complete the look, the build sits on a set of sourced and restored 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 wheels, a long-discontinued multi-piece forged set measuring 10 inches wide up front and 11 inches in the rear to fill out the stance.

Interior and Audio Packaging

Inside, the concept breaks from the dark, utilitarian cabins common in modern sports cars. The interior is upholstered in custom white leather (that really was a terrible trend of the '90s) designed to highlight the open-top architecture when viewed from above. Carbon fiber accents trim the center console and dashboard layout.

To compensate for wind noise during open-top driving, Nissan integrated Bose Personal Plus headrest speakers directly into the seating, maintaining driver audio focus without relying solely on high-volume door speakers.

Mechanical and Performance Upgrades

Underneath the modified bodywork, the Z Kaze retains Nissan’s standard twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, but upgrades key breathing and cooling components through established aftermarket channels.

The build incorporates GReddy components—including a SUPREME SP cat-back exhaust system and a front-mount air-to-air intercooler kit paired with an Airinx air intake—alongside upgraded NISMO performance suspension components. This integration serves as a direct nod to the aftermarket companies that defined Japanese performance tuning during the 1990s GT-R and Z eras.