It’s 2026, but Nissan is taking us back to the early Nineties with the latest special edition of its Z sports car. The Japanese automaker has announced that the 2026 Nissan Z includes a new Heritage Edition that honors none other than the 300ZX, also known as the Z32, which graced roads from 1990 to 1996.
The 300ZX was Nissan’s contribution to a Japanese invasion of sports cars on U.S. soil in the Nineties. The Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7 were its main competitors back then, and each had its niche. The Supra was the most powerful, and the RX-7 the quickest around anything with turns. The 300ZX, though, was the most stylish. Even today, a 35-year-old 300ZX will turn heads at a Cars and Coffee thanks to its low and wide stance, sweptback glass-covered headlights, and long oval taillights.
What Comes With The 2026 Nissan Z Heritage Edition
Fortunately, enough on the standard Z harkens back to the 300ZX
The new 2026 Nissan Z Heritage Edition honors the 300ZX in a few interesting ways. We particularly like the carbon fiber rear spoiler emblazoned with a “Twin Turbo” badge, just like the original had. Nissan also added “Twin Turbo” graphics to the body sides of the Heritage Edition, though we don’t recall any original 300ZX models sporting those from the factory.
The Z Heritage Edition also has bronze 19-inch RAYS wheels, though again, the 300ZX was never sold with bronze wheels. Inside, there are unique door sill plates and floor mats, while the paint color is Midnight Purple, which was one of the most popular colors offered on the GT-R – not the 300ZX.
Fortunately, enough on the standard Z harkens back to the 300ZX. The modern Z’s designers looked to its predecessor for plenty of inspiration, from the raised hood bulge to those long oval taillights to the three gauges atop its dashboard; there are Z32 elements all throughout today’s Z.
The 2026 Nissan Z is sold in three grades that include Standard, Performance, and NISMO, but the Heritage Edition is only available for Performance grades. Both Standard and Performance models utilize a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, just like the Z32, though today it makes 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque compared to the older car’s 300 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. A new Bound Gray paint color that pairs with a black roof also joins the lineup for 2026.
The 2026 Nissan Z NISMO, meanwhile, gets an upgraded version of the same engine that produces 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. NISMOs also get quicker-shifting transmissions, NISMO-tuned suspension and brakes, unique bodywork, wider wheels, and a more aggressive tread compound.
TopSpeed’s Take
We’re currently in the seventh generation of Nissan’s Z car, but the automaker was absolutely correct in choosing the fourth-generation 300ZX car to honor with this new Heritage Edition. It’s one of, if not the best Z cars of them all, and for Gen Xers (like many of us), it’s the Z we grew up with.
That said, Nissan’s execution here is questionable. The “Twin Turbo” badge on the exclusive rear spoiler is the highlight, but the bronze wheels and Midnight Purple paint color are direct references to the GT-R, not the 300ZX. You know what would reference the 300ZX? T-Tops, baby. Or even offering a more affordable, non-turbocharged version that still has good power. Those were things the 300ZX was known for when it was gliding down roads in the Nineties, not bronze wheels.
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