Lucas Bell 
In an attempt to draw in more young buyers, the Blue Oval has just announced that the fan-favorite Sport Appearance Package for the Ford Explorer XLT will be returning to the options list this summer for the 2021 model year. The announcement comes after a rather tumultuous first year of sales for the newly redesigned SUV.
The Ford Explorer XLT Sport Appearance Package aims to give the family hauler a bit more an aggressive look, with exterior additions such as a set of Carbonized Gray-painted 20-inch wheels with a matching grille, skid plates and hood lettering, as well as dual chrome exhaust tips. Stepping inside, the XLT Sport Appearance Package will also include unique ActiveX Light Slate two-tone seats with accent stitching, matching the center console lid and door trim panels
Ford states that 25 percent of the Explorer XLTs were optioned with the Sport Appearance Package when it was previously offered. This is something that the brand would like to see again, as they expect more and more young buyers to head to the showroom looking for an SUV. Whether or not buyers will overlook the Explorer’s initial quality issues for some added style is yet to be seen.
Thanks to what can only be described as a failed launch, sales of the Ford Explorer dropped by 5 percent in the second half of last year. In an interview with The Detroit News, Ford CFO Tim Stone said that the recent Explorer launch was the most difficult the company has faced since the introduction of the aluminum F-150 back in 2015. Rushed production and quality issues such as faulty seats, loose wiring harnesses and buggy digital displays all resulted in Ford delivering 26 percent fewer Explorers in 2019 than the year prior. That is a big blow considering the Explorer is the brand’s most popular SUV offering.
At this time there is no pricing information available for the Ford Explorer XLT Sport Appearance Package.
