One of the largest SUVs on-sale in America will soon officially hit Aussie roads.
The first right-hand-drive GMC Yukon has started development testing in Victoria ahead of first deliveries of the eight-seat SUV to local buyers next year.
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The supersized Yukon will be imported by General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV), and converted to right-hand-drive by Walkinshaw-owned Premoso, the modern day successor to Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), the much-loved firm which produced generations of hotted-up V8 sedans for Australian consumption.
Arriving initially in left-hand-drive, each Yukon will be partially disassembled and then rebuilt as a right-hand-drive vehicle in Clayton, Victoria. The vehicles are fully re-engineered and remanufactured for right-hand-drive.
GMSV has confirmed Australia will receive the Yukon in the upper-spec Denali trim, and showed off images of the upcoming 2025 model-year facelift, testing locally in camouflage.
Similar to how the Ford Everest is built on the ladder-chassis architecture of the Ford Ranger, the Yukon SUV shares its platform with Chevrolet’s Silverado 1500 pick-up truck, but with independent rear suspension. In its home US market, the Yukon is closely related to the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade large SUVs.
The Yukon is 5334cm long, 2057cm wide, 1943cm tall and rides on a 3070cm wheelbase. That’s 420cm longer and with a 170cm longer wheelbase than a Ford Everest.
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In the US, a Yukon “XL” is available at 5720cm – making it one of the largest SUVs on-sale in America.
Two engines are offered in the USA, the 313kW/624Nm 6.2-litre naturally aspired V8 – closely related to those that powered many fast Holden Commodores – and a 207kW/624Nm 3.0-litre turbodiesel inline-six. Both are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, while height-adjustable adaptive suspension is available on US models. The Yukon can tow up to 3700kg braked.
GSMV has only confirmed the V8 model for Australian sale so far.
Inside, the current Yukon Denali gets a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a very large 15-inch head-up display.
GMSV said initial vehicles would reach customers in the first half of next year. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
In Australia, the Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium – also imported by GMSV and converted to right-hand-drive, and using the same powertrain as the GMC Yukon – starts from $130,500 before on-road costs.
GMSV will also sell the right-hand-drive Yukon in New Zealand.
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