Nissan's wild 300bhp Spec-V Sentra is one of three SEMA concepts

Roll up, JDM fans: Nissan has kicked off SEMA 2026 with a bang, reviving the Sentra Spec-V and unveiling two more Z-based concepts.

Built to commemorate 35 years since the original arrived in North America, the Spec-V is a far cry from its everyday family saloon DNA. Largely because it featuring a heavily reworked 300bhp version of the standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a menacing body kit complete with an even more menacing and rather large GT-R Nismo rear wing.

Raiding Nissan's vast parts bin, it also borrows Brembo brakes and Recaro seats from the GT-R, plus a six-speed manual gearbox from the Juke Nismo RS. Mercifully, that's about all it steals from the Juke.

Nissan has also let a group of motorsport-mad engineers loose on the new Z with 'Project NAT2'. Built to SCCA Touring regulations (basically a US amateur racing series), it's a purpose-built race car with a stripped-out interior, roll cage and all the usual race-car... stuff.

And if you were wondering what happens when you cross a Formula Drift champion with a Datsun, look no further than Chris Forsberg's S30 restomod. The recipe here is simple: Nissan has transplanted the twin-turbo V6 from the new Z into the old, alongside lightweight carbon-fibre body panels and some decidedly un-1970s brakes to make sure it stops, too.

"Nissan has always had passionate fans who aren't shy about telling us what they love and what they'd like to see next, and we love that. A lot of us at Nissan are enthusiasts too," said Kim Less, vice-president of aftersales and customer loyalty at Nissan Americas.

"These projects are a chance to have some fun with that shared passion, take inspiration from our fans and our own teams, and show what's possible with cars like Sentra and Z."

Now for the bad news: Nissan says these concepts are not headed for production. The good news? The ideas showcased here could "influence future production vehicles". We'll keep our fingers crossed for some Nismo-flavoured goodness to come.