The Nissan Z Kaze Concept Revives the T-Top — and Nissan Is Listening
A one-off Z with removable roof panels, GReddy parts, and restored NISMO wheels debuted at ZCON — and Nissan's product chief says fan demand could put it into production.
Nissan has put a T-top back on the Z, at least on one car. The Z Kaze concept, revealed Sept. 23 at ZCON, the Z Car Club Association's annual convention, pairs a removable roof with heavy '90s import-tuner styling. And one of Nissan's top product executives says a production version depends on how loudly fans ask for it.
The name is Japanese for "wind," and the roof is the whole point. Nissan describes it as a custom-engineered T-top. A small team of the company's product planners and designers built the car as an in-house passion project, not as a preview of an announced model.
A '90s tuner build on a current Z
Everything else leans into the period. Pacific Teal paint covers a vented carbon-fiber hood, flared fenders, and a carbon-fiber aero kit.
The wheels are genuine NISMO LMGT2 forged multi-piece rims, a design that's been out of production for years. Nissan says the team tracked down an original 18-inch set and had it rebuilt. The rims are 10 inches wide up front and 11 inches at the rear.
Inside, white leather seats and carbon trim replace the all-black cabin typical of show cars. Bose headrest speakers keep the music audible with the panels off.
The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 gets GReddy hardware: a Supreme SP exhaust, a front-mount intercooler, and an Airinx intake filter. NISMO suspension parts complete the build. Nissan hasn't released output figures for the modified engine. For reference, the stock 2027 Z makes 400 hp and 350 lb-ft, while the Z NISMO makes 420 hp and 384 lb-ft.
Could it reach showrooms?
Officially, there are no plans. Nissan's announcement closes by noting that the Z Kaze is a concept and not for sale.
Unofficially, the company sounds more open. In an exclusive interview with The Drive, Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan Americas' chief product and planning officer, called the car an experiment. He also urged fans to make their demand heard and said that "if it gets well received from the public we're gonna make that car happen."
The engineering isn't exotic. Nissan told The Drive that the concept's panels use the same securing and release mechanism as the Z32-generation 300ZX, one of the earlier open-roof Zs the concept is meant to honor.
A T-top would also be a new kind of variant for a lineup that's coupe-only today. The 2027 Z runs from $44,480 for the Sport to $67,260 for the NISMO, before a $1,325 destination charge. Nissan has already shown it will act on enthusiast requests: it added a six-speed manual to the 2027 Z NISMO, citing popular demand.
The timing fits Nissan's broader messaging. CEO Ivan Espinosa told The Drive in April that sports cars are core to the company's identity, even as Nissan works through a wide-ranging turnaround plan.
For now, the Z Kaze stays on display at ZCON in Phoenix through Sept. 26, then moves to the Japanese Classic Car Show on Oct. 3. Nissan hasn't put a timeline on any decision about a T-top Z.
