Nissan is celebrating the Z sports coupe’s 55th birthday in the United States with a special Heritage Edition. The star of the show? A new split-grille bumper – a vast improvement over the standard design, if this author may be so bold.Nissan listened to the feedback because they introduced this split-grille option in Japan last year. It first appeared on the Proto concept car, then found its way onto the production-ready Fairlady Z Customized Edition for their domestic market.Beyond the newfound grin, the Heritage Edition throws it back to the S30-gen Datsun 240Z with a flashy new color scheme. Dubbed “New Sight Orange,” it’s accented by a contrasting, stealthy black hood decal, bodyside stripes, and special Heritage Edition badges flanking the Z emblems. Black 19-inch wheels and fender flares round out the sharper look.Under the hood, it’s business as usual. Borrowing from the Z Performance trim, the Heritage Edition packs a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 pumping out 400 horsepower and a peak torque figure of 350 lb-ft. A 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic sends power to the rear wheels, with a limited-slip differential and Nissan Performance brakes with red calipers keeping things tight.Production of the 2024 Z Heritage Edition will be limited, but just how limited remains a mystery, as Nissan’s keeping that info for itself. Expect the Heritage Edition to hit dealerships in the coming weeks, with a starting MSRP of $59,135 for either transmission — a $6,165 bump over the standard Performance trim upon which it is based.
