Nissan has turned back the clock to the boy-racer 1990s with the Z Kaze, a heavily modified concept that combines the latest Z sports car with styling cues from some of the most memorable models in the nameplate’s history.

Unveiled at ZCON, the annual gathering of the Z Car Club Association in Phoenix, Arizona, the Kaze – Japanese for ‘wind’ – is designed to celebrate more than five decades of Nissan sports cars while also tapping into the Japanese tuning scene of the 1990s.

Front left 3/4 view of the Nissan Z Kaze Concept parked in front of a fence with trees in the background
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Its headline feature is a T-top roof inspired by the 300ZX that arrived in 1989, just to turn the nostalgia dial all the way up to 11. Special mention goes to the GReddy signage on the flanks, which harks back to the Japanese aftermarket that thrived in the 1990s and 2000s.

Nissan says the concept draws inspiration from all seven generations of Z, a bloodline stretching back to the original Fairlady Z of 1969 and including standouts like the 280Z, two generations of 300ZX and the 350Z.

“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 Nissan America senior vice-president Ponz Pandikuthira.

The retro treatment goes well beyond the roof. The Kaze features a pair of carbon-fibre bonnet vents, pumped-out wheel arches and a carbon-fibre body kit incorporating a front splitter, side skirts, redesigned rear bumper and more prominent lip spoiler.

Angled right rear view of the Nissan Z Kaze Concept parked near a bush
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That lowered stance is complemented by forged multi-piece 18-inch Nismo LMGT2 racing wheels, while Nissan’s performance division has supplied a range of suspension and chassis upgrades. Pacific Teal paintwork and period-inspired decals put the cherry on top of the exterior transformation.

Inside, Nissan has fitted custom white leather upholstery and additional carbon-fibre trim. The audio system has also been upgraded, with a more powerful Bose set-up featuring speakers built into the headrests.

The regular Nissan Z is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 producing 298kW and 475Nm, sent to the rear wheels. Nissan has given the Kaze additional performance hardware, including a new exhaust system, intercooler kit and upgraded air filter. However, there’s no wordon how much extra power those modifications produce.

For now, the Z Kaze remains a concept rather than a preview of a confirmed production variant, but it shows Nissan is still willing to experiment with the heritage of one of its most famous performance nameplates.