2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Nasu Edition
By Lorenzo Bianchi October 22, 2025
The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Nasu Edition debuts at SEMA as a hybrid concept built for outdoor exploration.
Developed by Toyota’s Service Parts and Accessories Development (SPAD) team, it combines real off-road gear with design inspired by Japan’s Mt. Nasu.
Features include a custom lift, Toyo Open Country A/T III tires, and a purple “eggplant” wrap that nods to the Japanese word “nasu.”
A Familiar Form Turned Purposeful
The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Nasu Edition started life as an ordinary hybrid crossover. What showed up at the 2025 SEMA Show, though, looks nothing of the sort. Built by Toyota’s SPAD division, this one-off concept transforms the city-friendly Corolla Cross into a legitimate trail companion — complete with lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and enough bespoke detailing to catch attention even in a hall full of lifted trucks and supercars
It takes its name and inspiration from Mt. Nasu, a scenic Japanese destination known for hot springs, hiking, and mountain biking. The goal here wasn’t just cosmetic—it was functional. SPAD engineers modeled, printed, and machined much of the kit in-house, managing hundreds of concurrent accessory projects while developing the concept.
Design with an Outdoor Edge
The custom suspension lift gives it real presence, and Toyota truck-style wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country A/T III tires add practical grip. A modified hood scoop and one-off body kit reshape the front end just enough to make it look purposeful, not overdone. The color — a deep purple wrap — is more than a visual statement; it’s a nod to “eggplant,” another meaning of nasu in Japanese.
Lighting and accessories were clearly top priorities. Revised Toyota lightbars, fog lamps, and puddle lamps create a glow that feels both functional and atmospheric. The roof rack, complete with an articulating mount and cargo basket, signals genuine use, while the rock sliders and custom drawer system in the cargo bay show SPAD’s focus on usability.
Built Around Experience
The hybrid powertrain remains stock — a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with three electric motors for 196 horsepower and all-wheel drive. It’s enough to get up a forest road or a snow trail without fuss, but that’s not really the point. The Nasu Edition’s focus is lifestyle, not lap times. A fridge on a sliding tray, illuminated door sills, and even a downhill mountain bike mounted to the roof (a tribute to young world champion Asa Vermette) turn it into a rolling base camp
Inside, there are subtle touches: illuminated details, durable trims, and a sense that this could be a practical template for future Toyota adventure packages.
A Compact SUV with Bigger Ambitions
In a lineup that already includes the RAV4 and Tacoma, the Nasu Edition feels like Toyota’s way of saying there’s still space for personality in smaller models. It’s rougher, a little unpolished, and more honest than most SEMA concepts. And that’s what makes it interesting — a crossover that’s not pretending to be something else, but expanding what it can be.
The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Nasu Edition will be shown at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas (Central Hall, Booth 22200) alongside more than two dozen Toyota concept builds under the theme Powered by Possibility. It’s unlikely to reach showrooms as-is, but it’s proof that even the most everyday vehicles can find adventure with the right imagination — and a bit of purple paint.