Special edition of the Yukon Denali created as response to ‘customer demand.'

US-triggered international unrest and its affect of fuel price and supply won’t keep a new edition of the largest and heaviest drinking American SUV from entering here.

General Motors Speciality Vehicles (GMSV) has introduced a blacked-out special edition version of its gargantuan three-row eight-seater passenger petrol guzzler, the GMC Yukon Denali.

The Signature Black editions is specifically for the New Zealand and Australian markets and prices at $193,490 plus on-road costs. Who wants it in this climate? Well, according to GMSV, buyers are to blame - it’s a result of customer demand.

Several exterior aesthetic changes have been made for the special edition model, which like all other variants starts out from a factory located fittingly in ‘bigger than’ Texas, then ships to Australia for conversion to right hand drive by Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Melbourne.

The Signature Black features Onyx Black exterior paint, while “Black Vader Chrome” has been used for the side mouldings, front and lower rear fascia accent trim, grille, and grille surround. It also has gloss black hood moulding and roof rails, along with black 24-inch wheels and exterior badging.

The illuminated GMC emblem on Australia-spec variants doesn’t seem to provision here.

Second-row captain’s chairs headline the interior changes, but inside you’ll also find jet black leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power-sliding centre console, tri-zone climate control, a 16.8-inch infotainment touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity), a 15.0-inch multicolour heads-up display, dual rear-seat 12.6-inch “colour-touch” LCD screens with two pairs of accompanying wireless headphones, wireless phone charging, and a 14-speaker sound system.

Power and torque figures from the 6.2-litre V8 – which is still coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive – remain unchanged from the regular Yukon Denali at 313kW and 624Nm.

The Signature Black also retains the rest of the Yukon Denali’s features and capabilities, including its 3628kg towing capability (when equipped with the appropriate weight-distribution hitch), two-speed transfer case, electronic limited slip differential, adaptive four-corner suspension with magnetic ride control, trailer sway control and integrated brake controller, and 360-degree camera (with hitch guidance and hitch view) along with the rest of its ADAS safety suite.

Acting managing director for General Motors Australia and New Zealand Greg Rowe says the Signature Black is the result of responding to customer feedback.

“The Yukon Denali Signature Black reflects how closely we listen to our customers and respond to what they want from a premium SUV,” he said.

“Developed with their feedback in mind, the second-row captain’s chairs and purpose-selected 24-inch wheels, finished in a distinctive all-black treatment, give customers a more individual expression of GMC luxury.

“Together, these features elevate the commanding comfort and presence that already define Yukon, while maintaining the towing and touring capability our customers value.”