Nissan reveals Z Heritage Edition
Celebrating more than half a century of their Z sport coupe, Nissan Australia recently announced the ‘Z Heritage Edition’. This very limited model unites the running gear of the Z with cosmetic elements from Nissan’s other performance hero, the GT-R.
Finished in exclusive Midnight Purple paint, a colour synonymous with the GT-R, and riding on 19-inch RAYS wheels, the Z Heritage Edition is limited to just ten units for Australia.
“The Nissan Z Heritage Edition is a celebration of what the Z nameplate means to the people who’ve loved these cars for generations,” said Steve Milette, Managing Director, Nissan Oceania.
“By bringing Midnight Purple to the Z, we’re honouring the shared performance DNA between two of Nissan’s most celebrated nameplates. And with only ten available in Australia, this is a rare opportunity for true enthusiasts.”
Z History
The Z nameplate dates back to 1969 with the release of the Datsun-badged 240Z. A worldwide hit, the 240Z evolved into the 260Z, then the 280ZX. The next generation 300ZX wore a Nissan badge and swapped a straight six engine for a V6. After the 300ZX was discontinued in 1997, the nameplate was revived in 2002 with the 350Z. That model led to the 370Z, which carried the flag from 2009 to 2020.
Another hiatus for the nameplate ended when the all-new Z was released in 2022. This seventh-generation car leaned heavily into the original 240Z’s styling, but featured the latest engine, infotainment and safety technology. A Z NISMO edition was added in 2023, of which the first allocation for Australia sold out in less than an hour. A similar outcome is expected for the Z Heritage Edition.
To mark the launch of the Z Heritage Edition, Nissan Australia joined with members of the Nissan Datsun Sports Owners Club in Melbourne, who presented their cars alongside the new model. The gathering saw virtually every generation of the Z represented, from the earliest to the latest.
Midnight Heritage
The cross-pollination of Z and GT-R history for the Z Heritage Edition sees the special model finished in Midnight Purple paint, which was applied to the Skyline GT-R in the 1990s, most notably on the R34 GT-R V-Spec.
According to Nissan, the metalflake colour-shifting paint, which presents as blue and green under certain light, was considered taboo for production cars at the time. Nissan’s designers felt it suited the character of the GT-R, though, and the market agreed, with Midnight Purple becoming one of the most sought-after colours.
On the Z Heritage Edition, this special paint is combined with 19-inch, 10-spoke RAYS forged alloy wheels with a bronze finish.
Z Power
Paint and wheels aside, the Heritage Edition is unchanged from the regular Z. That means a 3.0-litre V6 delivering 298kW and 475Nm. This can be matched to a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission (that includes an Exedy high-performance clutch), or a nine-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
Standard equipment includes a mechanical limited-slip differential, launch control, 12.3-inch TFT instrument display with multiple modes, 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats with leather accents, plus active noise cancellation and sound enhancement.
Safety features include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Intelligent Cruise Control.
Local Pricing
Being a cosmetic package only, the Z Heritage Edition carries a small premium over the standard Z. List pricing of $77,410 compares to $76,160 for the base version. The Nissan Z NISMO remains the priciest local offering, at $94,065 (all prices exclude ORCs).
While all ten units of the Z Heritage Edition are likely to have sold out by the time you read this, Nissan Australia say the regular 2026 Z coupe is due for local release later this year, bringing “updated specifications” that will be announced closer to local launch.
