GMC might be busy rolling out the new Sierra pickup but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten about the rest of their lineup. For 2019, the Yukon gets a couple of new packages – and one of them has the mighty 6.2L V8 engine.

This new-on-the-books Yukon Graphite Edition is essentially a trim package, offering a darkened exterior appearance including enormous 22-inch bright machined wheels. That’s fine for posers but what we’re more interested in is the Graphite Performance Edition.

Packing GM’s fabulous 6.2L V8, rated at 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, the Graphite Performance Edition also gets a host of other equipment. On board are a trailer brake controller and up-rated alternator, as are Magnetic Ride Control and those 22-inch wheels mentioned earlier. This should put its tow rating somewhere slightly north of 8000lbs.

“The Yukon continues to lead the full-size SUV segment with premium features and an instantly recognizable and well-respected identity,” said Stu Pierce, senior marketing manager for GMC Trucks and Full-Size SUVs. “The Graphite Edition builds on the commanding road presence and inherent capabilities of the Yukon and affords customers the opportunity to project a unique, yet distinctly GMC style.”

Outside, all the Yukon’s chrome has been blacked out, including brightwork that’s usually found around the billboard-sized grille and window trim. The Performance Edition also carries a couple of nifty features into the Yukon’s cabin, including Bose Active Noise Cancellation and a heads-up display for the driver.

The Graphite Edition, both of them, are available on SLT trim trucks and can be ordered on either the Yukon or Yukon XL in two- or four-wheel drive.

Chevy introduced something similar on it Tahoe last year. Called the RST, that package imbued the bowtie SUV with sporty trim comparable to this Graphite Edition. The RST name has since migrated to the pickup truck for 2019, so this  author wouldn’t be surprised if the Sierra received the Graphite treatment in the next twelve months.

GM’s Yukon and Tahoe brothers are the long-dominant players in the full-size SUV segment. The company generally rolls out a restyle of the twins roughly a year or two after they revamp their pickup truck cousins. Packages such as these are a great way to stoke consumer interest in a model that’s in the twilight of its product cycle.

Package pricing hasn’t been announced but GMC did say the Graphite Editions will be offered in three exterior colors: Onyx Black, White Frost, and Dark Sky Metallic. Look for them on dealer lots this summer.