What’s a sports car without an open air option? That’s a question a lot of Nissan fans have been asking since the automaker ended production of the ragtop 370Z six years ago. Could it be set to return? The Nissan Z Kaze Concept may offer a hint of what’s to come.
The Z Kage Concept debuts six years after Nissan built the last Z convertible,
While manual transmissions may be a dying breed, convertibles aren’t very far behind. When it comes to Nissan, it’s been six years since the Japanese automaker sent the last convertible version of the 370Z driving off into the sunset.
Yet, there are still plenty of folks who love the feeling of driving in the open air. And the Nissan Z Kaze Concept that debuted at the Z Car Club Association’s annual convention today suggests we may see a new option for those who want to drive al fresco.
No, it’s not a true convertible, opting for a T-top alternative, but it still “unlock(s) the wind-in-the-hair feeling beloved by driving enthusiasts,” the automaker said as it pulled the wraps – and the top – off the Z Kaze Concept.
What’s new
A closer look at the Z Kage’s T-Top roof.
The name itself is appropriate, “Kaze” being the Japanese word for “wind.”
“The Z Kaze concept celebrates some of Nissan’s most iconic open top sports cars, while recognizing the ’90s tuning culture that helped put Nissan and NISMO on the map,” said Ponz Pandikuthira, the automaker’s senior vice president, chief product and planning officer, Nissan Americas. “This passion project combines Nissan’s engineering excellence, creativity and celebration of the brand’s heritage.”
The show car leans into the the Z Car’s iconic past, even as it offers a hint of what might be in the works. As Nissan officials noted, the design team gave a “nod to the import-tuner car scene” of the 1990s, with modest modifications that include a lightweight vented carbon fiber hood, fender flares and a custom carbon fiber aero body kit. They finished the show car off with a treo Pacific Teal paint scheme.
A boost to performance
The show car’s white leather interior is offset by carbon fiber accents.
Add restored 18-inch NISMO LMGT2 wheels – which, Nissan notes, have long been out of production. The forged, multi-piece wheels had a loyal following for both their looks and durability.
That said, the overall design gives the Kage a more performance-oriented stance.
That extends to the interior. The teal exterior is countered by custom white leather-trimmed seating and carbon-fiber interior accents. Meanwhile, occupants will be able to enjoy their favorite tunes, even with the T-top panels removed thanks to Bose Personal Plus speakers built into the headests.
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Performance and powertrain
Kage’s twin-turbo V-6.
To enhance performance and handling, Nissan officials noted, the suspension gets a complete NISMO component makeover.
As for the powertrain, Kage features the current Z Car’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine. It’s paired with components provided by tuning company GReddy, including a Supreme SP exhaust system, front mount air-to-air intercooler kit and Airinx air filter kit.
The Nissan Z Kage Concept will be on display through the weekend at the ZCon show in Phoenix before moving to the Japanese Classic Car Show on October 3.
Is there a production model in the works? Nissan isn’t saying. But there’s clearly demand for some form of open-air Z Car. Perhaps we’ll learn more in the coming months.
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