by Thanos Pappas
- Corolla Cross Nasu debuts as the first of many Toyota concepts for SEMA.
- It wears a purple wrap and features a custom bodykit with off-road gear.
- It keeps its hybrid setup but gains a lifted suspension and all-terrain tires.
Toyota is giving its compact crossover a taste of mountain air with a rugged one-off build that turns the everyday Corolla Cross into something way more adventurous.
The 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid Nasu Edition, one of several concepts heading to this year’s SEMA Show, brings a custom bodykit, off-road hardware, a lift kit, and chunky all-terrain tires to the small SUV.
More: This New Toyota SUV Looks Familiar But Its Face And Cabin Might Surprise You
The concept is inspired by Nasu mountain in Japan, a destination known for hiking, hot springs, and outdoor adventure. Interestingly, “nasu” carries two meanings in Japanese. As a verb, it translates to “to achieve,” while as a noun, it means “eggplant,” which explains the purple wrap that gives the vehicle its distinct look.If you get past the eye-catching colors, you’ll notice that this Corolla Cross sits higher thanks to a suspension lift and a new set of black truck wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country A/T III all-terrain tires.
Its rugged stance is accentuated by the conceptual bodykit, which includes wide fender extensions, redesigned skid plates, rock sliders, extra LEDs, and a rather unnecessary hood scoop.
Furthermore, a Nasu-branded roof rack paired with a special downhill mountain bike serves as an homage to Junior World Champion, Asa Vermette.
Inside, modifications include illuminated door sills, cargo sills, and puddle lamps, along with a unique setup for the cargo area. The boot has a lockable drawer and is packed with a large JBL Bluetooth speaker and a portable fridge.
It’s all standard affair under the hood, where you’ll find a 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain, delivering a combined 196 hp (146 kW / 199 PS) to all four wheels.
The 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid Nasu concept is the work of Toyota’s Service Parts and Accessories Development (SPAD) team. Its development included CAD design, 3D printing, CNC machining, and assembly, which were carried out across multiple locations.
Review: The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Feels Like A RAV4 For A New Generation
Mike Tripp, group vice president of Toyota Marketing, said: “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.”
The one-off will make its debut at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas between November 4–7. It will join over two dozen Toyota concepts that will also be present at the show. We expect to see more of those being gradually revealed in the coming weeks.
