Title: Why the Ford Edsel Failed | HowStuffWorks
Headings: Why the Ford Edsel Failed
Why the Ford Edsel Failed
Content: Check out a subcompact SUV like the Honda HR-V. Want good fuel economy and unbridled luxury? Luxury hybrids like the Lexus RX 450h are there for you. Want to go off-road in your convertible? The Jeep Wrangler lets you put the top down no matter how rough the trail is. Having so many options should limit the number of car models that are absolute failures, right? Well, that wasn't the case with the 1958 Ford Edsel. Ford dubbed Sept. 4, 1957, the day the Edsel debuted, as "E-Day" and spent the year leading up to it pushing a teaser campaign for the new brand and the new car. At launch, Ford made 18 different versions of the Edsel available — an unheard-of move at a time when most car companies offered just a few models. The Edsel was supposed to be everything American car buyers wanted; however, it was a terrible flop.