Nissan Z Kaze T-top concept was introduced on Wednesday and although it’s officially classified as a concept, the automaker is surprisingly transparent about a potential production version. In an exclusive interview, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, Ponz Pandikuthira mentioned to The Drive, “Inform your fans, of whom there are many, that if you genuinely desire this car, make your voices heard and let Nissan know you definitely want it, as that will motivate them to produce it.
“It’s a concept, we’re experimenting with something,” Pandikuthira elaborated. “However, if we receive a positive response from the public, we’re going to make that car a reality.”
Currently, Nissan is facing significant challenges and introduced a substantial turnaround strategy in April. The first initiative in that strategy is set to debut with the mass-market Rogue Hybrid, aiming to compete with the dominant Toyota RAV4. Another part of the plan involves launching a new Xterra to rival the Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler, and Ford Bronco, utilizing V6 and hybrid powertrains.
However, these models are aimed at volume sales, positioned alongside the larger Armada SUV and Frontier pickup. In April, Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa told The Drive, “Sports cars are fundamental to our identity as a company.” This was also where Espinosa revealed that Nissan is already developing a new GT-R, while Pandikuthira stated that the next-gen Godzilla will be electrified, equipped with the VR38 engine, and expected to release in 2030.
The executive overseeing Nissan’s global product strategy, Richard Candler, informed The Drive, “We are thoroughly reassessing the sports car lineup. We all aim to create some exciting vehicles.” Candler also expressed a desire to reintroduce the Silvia nameplate, deeming it quite valuable and indicating that there’s “still room” for it.
Recently, Pandikuthira remarked “there will be subtle references to [Nissan’s] heritage” in their future lineup, expressing a desire for customers to “experience that lineage” in the company’s vehicles as they aim to remain “faithful to our roots.”
It’s hard to dispute that a new Z featuring T-top roofs doesn’t convey that sentiment. Create enough buzz online, and you may soon find yourself able to reserve one at your nearby Nissan dealership.
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