One-Off Nissan Z Revealed With New Look And Retro Upgrades

Jan. 17, 2022 11:16 AM ET by Nikesh Kooverjee Concept / 12 Comments

The new bumper gives the sports car a more classical look.

While opinions regarding the Nissan Z's exterior appearance have been rather positive, one specific point of criticism has been the large rectangular grille opening at the front bumper. The brand's local Japanese division has created an alternate option, along with other styling upgrades, for its Nissan Z Customized Proto concept.

The custom prototype model that took to the stage at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon was built to honor the Z's lineage and to "gauge customer and fan interest for potential future accessory options," says Nissan. The unique set of panels combines the tradition of the moniker with the company's latest technology. Changes to the model are strictly visual but Nissan states that they will change the mood of the drive entirely.

The special model is inspired by the 1970 Nissan Z432R as it acquires a similar orange body paint with a contrasting black hood, roof, wing mirrors, and rear spoiler. To give it a historic look, the model also gains a set of black aluminum wheels wrapped in tires with white lettering. For an enhanced retro presence, the wheel arches are also slightly extended.

The most notable change is the aforementioned front bumper which narrows the rectangular grille into the upper part while the lower sports a second trapezoidal air intake. A subtle two-piece carbon fiber splitter and narrow air intakes can also be spotted at either lower end of the bumper.

The Nissan Z Customized Proto maintains the brand's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 which will deliver 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. There are no plans to bring these parts to production as yet but that could change with enough interest. Speaking of interesting offerings in high demand, the limited-edition Proto Spec was just confirmed for Japan too.

As in the USA, this exclusive trim will be limited to just 240 customers and if orders exceed that number, allocation will be determined via a lottery system. What makes this model special are the two-tone Squid Yellow and Super Black color scheme, 19-inch Rays forged aluminum wheels, and yellow brake calipers. Inside, owners will be treated to genuine leather and suede-like fabric combination upholstery, along with special color stitching applied to the instrument panel, door trim cloth, shifter boot, knee pads, and other trimmings.

One-Off Nissan Z Revealed With New Look And Retro Upgrades

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One-Off Nissan Z Revealed With New Look And Retro Upgrades

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