News Release

NMC Marks 40 Years of AUTECH with STELVIO
“TSUNAGU Project”
Two rare AUTECH ZAGATO STELVIOs come together to give one
car a new chapter while passing specialist knowledge and skills
to the next generation

September 17, 2026

TSUNAGU Project

September 17, 2026, Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd. (NMC) today announced the launch of the STELVIO “TSUNAGU Project” to mark AUTECH’s 40th anniversary, bringing together two rare AUTECH ZAGATO STELVIOs to give one of the cars a new chapter while passing specialist knowledge, skills and craftsmanship to the next generation.

At the heart of the project are two STELVIOs with very different histories: a red vehicle maintained by NMC for many years, and a blue vehicle entrusted to NMC by its owner with the hope that it could contribute to the future.

Selected components from the red STELVIO will be used in the blue car, creating a physical connection between the two vehicles while helping give the blue STELVIO a new chapter.

At the same time, experienced engineers and technicians will work alongside younger members, using the cars as practical learning resources to pass on knowledge and skills that are best transferred through hands-on experience.

The name “TSUNAGU,” meaning “to connect,” reflects the idea at the heart of the project: connecting one car to another, experienced specialists with the next generation, and AUTECH’s heritage with its future.

Yutaka Sanada, President and CEO of NMC, said: “AUTECH’s 40-year milestone is deeply meaningful for NMC. What we have inherited is not only vehicles and technologies, but also the knowledge, skills, craftsmanship and spirit of challenge that have shaped AUTECH over four decades.

“Through the STELVIO ‘TSUNAGU Project,’ we want to carry that heritage forward. By bringing experienced members and younger colleagues together around these two special cars, we can pass on knowledge and skills that are best learned through hands-on experience, while giving the blue STELVIO a new chapter.”


AUTECH ZAGATO STELVIO

AUTECH ZAGATO STELVIO

Introduced in 1989, three years after the establishment of Autech Japan, the AUTECH ZAGATO STELVIO was jointly developed with renowned Italian coachbuilder Zagato.

Featuring a distinctive exterior and interior design, together with dedicated engine and chassis tuning, the STELVIO was produced in a limited run of 200 units.

For the young Autech Japan, the STELVIO represented an ambitious combination of Japanese engineering and Italian coachbuilding expertise. It challenged conventional thinking and became an expression of the pioneering spirit and approach to craftsmanship that characterized AUTECH from its early years.

More than 30 years later, the STELVIO remains one of the most distinctive vehicles in AUTECH’s history.


Two STELVIOs, Two Stories
The two vehicles involved in the TSUNAGU Project are preserved at NMC’s Chigasaki headquarters.

The red STELVIO has been maintained by NMC for many years and represents an important part of AUTECH’s heritage. The blue STELVIO carries a very different story. Passed down through two generations of the same family, the car was carefully preserved over many years, including through the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Its owner later entrusted the vehicle to NMC with the wish that it could “serve a meaningful purpose for the future”. Through the TSUNAGU Project, that wish becomes the blue STELVIO’s next chapter.

Selected components from the red car will support the work on the blue vehicle, while the process itself will provide a practical environment for experienced engineers and technicians to work alongside younger members and pass on specialist knowledge, skills and craftsmanship.

Rather than treating the two STELVIOs simply as historic vehicles, the project will use them as working resources through which AUTECH’s heritage can continue to create value for the future.



FROM RED TO BLUE

FROM RED TO BLUE

The project also carries the concept “FROM RED TO BLUE.”
Red reflects the corporate color associated with Autech Japan during its earlier years, while blue represents the AUTECH brand today.
Together, the two colors symbolize AUTECH’s journey across four decades — from its beginnings to the brand it is today — and the ambition behind TSUNAGU to connect that heritage with the people and skills that will shape what comes next.

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