If you’re a JDM fan, you’ll be happy to find out that Nissan is taking enthusiasts back to the 1990s with the reveal of the 2026 Nissan Z Heritage Edition. Shown at the 38th annual ZCON in Nashville, Tennessee, this special package honors the fourth-generation 300ZX (Z32) while adding modern touches that fit today’s sports car market.
Available exclusively on the Performance grade, which starts at $52,970, this retro-inspired package will set you back an additional $2,940, bringing the total to $55,910, excluding destination. The package gets you a set of bronze 19-inch forged RAYS wheels, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler with a retro “Twin Turbo” badge, and matching graphics on the body. Nissan has also thrown in exclusive door kick plates, Heritage floor mats, and a throwback paint option: Midnight Purple, a heritage color that longtime Nissan fans should recognize from the Skyline GT-R.
Midnight Purple has a cult following among the Nissan faithful. The color first gained fame on the R34 Skyline GT-R, and it shifts between purple, blue, and green depending on the way the light hits the paint. The shade became a symbol of Japan’s tuner era, and Nissan later revived it for special versions of the now-discontinued R35 GT-R. Offering it on the Z ties together two of the company’s most iconic nameplates, while also giving today’s buyers access to a finish once reserved for limited-production halo cars.
Nissan has incorporated several heritage-inspired elements throughout the 2026 model lineup, with the hood bulge referencing the original Z, the elongated taillights, and the blacked-out rear panel being a throwback to the 300ZX. Even the triple gauge cluster on the dashboard is a deliberate nod to past models, but in this case, it shows turbo boost, turbine speed, and battery voltage.
Clearly, then, Nissan is deliberately tapping into nostalgia while giving you a modern sports car that you can daily. The standard Performance trim already includes heated leather-appointed seats, a Bose audio system, sport pedals, and a mechanical, limited-slip differential. The Heritage Edition builds on this, turning your Nissan Z into a standout model without altering the drivetrain.
Speaking of performance, all Z models pack a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. You can choose a six-speed manual or a nine-speed auto with paddle shifters. That choice alone makes the Z one of the few sports cars that still caters to manual enthusiasts. A stick will also join the top-spec NISMO variant, which packs 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. Wider wheels on stickier tires, and a suspension tuned for track work.
At just under $56k, the Heritage Edition sits in a sweet spot between attainable sports car models like the Toyota GR Supra, the Ford Mustang, which recently received its own retro Fox Body-inspired FX Package, and higher-end offerings such as the soon to be phased out gas-powered Porsche 718 Cayman. If you want a car that blends history with modern technology, the 2026 Nissan Z Heritage Edition is worth serious consideration. Question is, would you pay extra for nostalgia, or would you stick with the standard Z Performance?
Source: Nissan