Ford Taurus
The early ’80s were a bad time for American manufacturers. Sales were at an all-time low, and recession hit the industry. Fuel went up again, and foreign companies took a significant share of the market. American carmakers were still recovering from the challenging 1970s (via Ford Authority).
The Ford Motor Company was in financial trouble, experiencing slow sales across its lineup. The only solution was to invest in a fresh new model to show the world what Ford could do. The development started in the early 1980s, and in 1985, Ford introduced the Taurus. It was an all-new, midsized sedan with front-wheel drive and a selection of new engines. This was a big step forward for Ford and the American car industry since the Taurus looked and felt like a premium import model. They gave it a sleek aerodynamic design and great driving characteristics. Sales went through the roof and Ford scored a big hit with the buyers. The Taurus became one of the most influential American cars of the 1980s, saving Ford from inevitable financial failure.