Jaecoo has given its J7 the Darth Vader treatment with the new SHS-P Black Edition, which features black finishes throughout the exterior and interior to give the medium SUV an unmistakable presence whether it’s on the road or parked.

Priced from $49,990 drive-away, the Black Edition is based on the SHS-P Summit AWD, which sells for $2000 less. The newcomer will arrive in dealerships this month, and test drives will be available from mid-November.

Gone is the chrome detailing, replaced with black finishes just about everywhere you look: the black waterfall grille, exterior trims, gloss-black mirrors and roof rails and, of course, the black wheels. The dark theme continues in the cabin, with black pillar and headliner trims.  

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The SHS-P Summit AWD sits at the top of the J7’s MY27 range, above the Track SHS-P 2WD and SHS-P Summit 2WD. While the track versions of the J7 get standard features including dual-zone automatic climate control, power-retracting door handles and eight airbags, the Summit variants add a heated steering wheel and 360-degree camera.

The Dark Edition’s Super Hybrid System combines a 1.5-litre, turbocharged petrol engine with two e-motors, one on each axle, for combined outputs of 206kW and 490Nm. It will support DC fast charging with a claimed 30 to 80 per cent charge time of 20 minutes, plus there’s a 14.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, 10.25-inch driver’s display and heated and ventilated front seats.

As before, the Jaecoo J7 is covered by an eight-year/unlimited km warranty for both the car and EV battery, as well as eight years of roadside assistance and eight years of capped price servicing.