The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Nasu Edition Brings Mountain-Ready Muscle To SEMA

Toyota is cranking up the adventure factor at the 2025 SEMA Show with the debut of the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Nasu Edition, a bold concept that turns the brand’s practical compact crossover into a rugged, off-road-ready machine.

Inspired by Japan’s Mt. Nasu (a hot spot for hiking, hot springs, and outdoor exploration), this special build fuses off-road attitude with lifestyle-driven upgrades, showing that the Corolla Cross can handle a lot more than just city streets.

“The Corolla Cross is one of the most versatile vehicles in our lineup, and the Nasu Edition shows how much further it can go,” said Steve Park, senior product planner, Toyota and Lexus Vehicle Accessories. “While the inspiration for this build is the adventurous spirit of Mt. Nasu in Japan, ‘nasu’ as a verb in Japanese also means ‘to achieve.’ We hope this build inspires others to build, to experience, and to achieve.”

Built by Toyota’s SPAD Team for the Outdoor Enthusiast

This concept comes from Toyota’s Service Parts and Accessories Development team, the same group responsible for creating many of the brand’s custom accessories. And as you can see, they really knocked it out of the park with this one.

To bring the Toyota Corolla Cross Nasu Edition to life, engineers used a mix of CAD design, 3D printing, CNC machining, and multi-location assembly. The result? A sick, one-off build that combines precision engineering with serious trail-ready swagger.

Power, Traction, and Trail Confidence

Under the hood, the Nasu Edition keeps the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s efficient 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors, producing a combined 196HP. While it would have been cool to see them drop the GR Corolla’s powertrain into here, a trail rig like this doesn’t really need more power.

That hybrid punch gets sent through an all-wheel drive system sitting on custom Toyota truck wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country A/T III all-terrain tires. To handle more rugged terrain, the SPAD team gave it a custom suspension lift, improving ground clearance and giving it a tougher, ready-for-anything stance.

Rugged Design with Style and Function

Visually, this thing looks nothing like your neighbor’s Corolla Cross. The Nasu Edition sports a custom body kit with a modified hood scoop for a more aggressive profile, plus a deep purple wrap – a color nod to another Japanese meaning of nasu, “eggplant.”

The exterior is loaded with overlanding gear like rock sliders, a cargo basket, and a reworked articulating roof rack. Inside the cargo area, you’ll find a custom drawer system and slide-out refrigerator, perfect for long weekend adventures or camping trips.

Lighting also got the full SEMA treatment with custom Toyota lightbars, fog lamps, puddle lamps, illuminated door sills, and cargo sills that keep things bright whether you’re loading up or setting up camp.

To tie it all together, a custom downhill mountain bike is mounted to the roof rack – a tribute to Junior World Champion Asa Vermette, a nod to the outdoor and cycling community that fits perfectly with the Nasu Edition’s adventurous DNA.

A New Chapter in Toyota’s Adventure Story

“With the Corolla Cross Nasu Edition, we’re showing how one of our most popular and accessible nameplates can be reimagined to embody Toyota’s adventurous spirit,” said Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Marketing.

“This concept demonstrates that possibility isn’t limited to our trucks and body-on-frame SUVs — it extends across our lineup. At Toyota, we believe in building vehicles that empower our customers to do more, explore more, and achieve more, and the Nasu Edition is a bold example of that philosophy.”

Catch It Live at SEMA 2025

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Nasu Edition will be on display at the 2025 SEMA Show, running November 4–7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Central Hall, Booth 22200).

It’s just one of more than two dozen Toyota concept builds featured under this year’s theme, Powered by Possibility—showcasing Toyota’s forward-thinking approach across every powertrain: gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and fuel cell.

So if you’re hitting SEMA this year, don’t miss this compact crossover that’s ready to trade the mall parking lot for a mountain trail.

(Note: The Corolla Cross Nasu Edition is a special project prototype vehicle featuring non-production parts and accessories that may void warranty coverage, impact performance, and may not be street legal.)