--- title: "The Nissan Z Is Thriving Thanks to an Unlikely Hero: Your Parents" date: "2026-04-02" modified: "2026-04-02" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-nissan-z-is-thriving-thanks-to-an-unlikely-hero-your-parents" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" tags: - "sports car" --- # The Nissan Z Is Thriving Thanks to an Unlikely Hero: Your Parents ![Feder's 1990 Nissan Z32 with a modern Nissan Z]() *\Alex Bellus Photography\* You can thank your parents and their friends for the Z getting love, time, and money at [Nissan]() right now. On Wednesday at the 2026 New York auto show, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for Nissan North America, Ponz Pandikuthira, exclusively told *The Drive* that, "The one very interesting thing about who's buying Z today, there's a lot of people who lusted after this car when they were teenagers and maybe in their 20s, and they couldn't afford it. And then the car kind of just, you know, lost its way a little bit. They were never really enthused. But [they love this version](). So we're getting a lot of older buyers coming and buying this car, as a trophy car, a retirement car, whatever else. And so the Z performance version is selling extremely well. There is a narrow niche that loves us for track use and stuff. They're buying the Nismo." "We've got a pretty steady cadence at which we're selling this car, and we're meeting the right demographic who wants them. You're not getting the 22 year old who wants a car, they're buying a cheaper car that they can tune. So, we'll feed that lifecycle through animation," Pandikuthira said. What does that mean? Nissan's about to lean in. "It is going to be heritage based," Pandikuthira noted and continued by saying Nissan will "go back to the authenticity of what Z was in the past. Create special editions that resonate with that heritage, and keep that animated cycle plan. Nissan won't just build it and then walk away. So you'll see a lot of that animation coming through special versions." The [2027 Nissan Z]() brings forth a mild refresh with updated front bumper and a manual transmission for the [Nismo model](). The Z itself will take longer and [be harder to get your hands]() on for 2027 as the automaker moves the sports car to [more of a build-to-order model](). Pandikuthira confirmed this move and noted, "These are the people who lusted after the car, and they're like, I love it in that maroon color. I want that British racing green. I want this tan, you know, camel interior seats. I wanted to be in a manual, not this. So, go ahead, let them spec it out. They are willing to wait because this is not somebody who's using this car to get to work every day. So they're willing to wait 3 to 6 months, the time it takes to build it, ship it over here." But what comes next for the Z? Those special "animations" as Pandikuthira put it will arrive over the course of the next three years, according to the SVP. "Then we'll actively talk about what that next generation will look like, and it's also got to make sense with what that [next-generation GT-R]() will look like. You know, it's got a slot in there below where a GT-R would be," Pandikuthira said. *Got a tip about future product? Send us a line at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()