The 1985/86 Ford Taurus is viewed as the model that ended the malaise. It utilized the quality controls processes from Edwards Deming, and offered outstanding ergonomics, viable front wheel drive, fuel injection, and composite headlights (composite headlights were already approved overseas but not in the U.S.). The SHO engine offered double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder among other things.
One little quibble: composite headlights were approved for the 1984 model year. The 1984 Lincoln Mark VII had them.
The SHO came out in 1989 and I bought one. Until then auto engineers stated a front wheel drive care could not have more than 200 HP due to problems with torque steer. The SHO proved them wrong. That 24 valve Yamaha engine had a 9k RPM red line and was as smooth as silk.
It was one of my cars I really miss.