The '90s was a great time for vehicle manufacturers. Some were just getting their start in a car-hungry market and others were finally branching out from older designs and stepping into the future. Unfortunately, the step towards the 21st century would prove to be too much of a leap for some and some designs would fade into obscurity as a product.

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A lot of innovation happened in the 1990s so it's easy to understand why some models have simply been "forgotten" in the modern age.

We scoured the web and dug up some of the strangest (and coolest) cars to stem from the '90s that people have likely forgotten about over the years.

10 Fiat Multipla

Via: Motor1

No disrespect to the hard-working folks over at Fiat but is it any wonder that some people likely repressed their memories concerning the Multipla? The '90s was a great era for "experimentation" and it resulted in a lot of vehicles gaining their modern shapes moving into the early 2000s but the Multipla was a Frankenstein of epic proportions.

It looks like Fiat was attempting to step too far into the future and the result is an unforgiving design that looks more like a wonky Sci-Fi cargoship than a car.

9 Suzuki X-90

Via: Hemmings Motor News

Car companies are constantly trying to innovate and change their designs to one-up the competition. This results in some stellar designs that become iconic over time. The Suzuki Samurai is one great example, and the company's boxy Jeep Wrangler-like SUV would find a cult following in the '70s.

Fast-forward to the '90s and Suzuki was hard at work trying to find something to replicate their past success. The X-90 was born and it's hard not to see the Samurai influence. Unfortunately, the design didn't translate into a "car" well at all.

8 VW Golf Harlequin

golf-harlequin-the-clown-car-youd-be-lucky-to-own
Via: VW

Another big trend in the '90s was to multicolor anything and everything. This was especially hip with kids and there were an array of toys and food products that featured odd and wacky hues. Volkswagen apparently dug the fad enough to buy into it with a special edition of their Golf, which they dubbed Harlequin.

RELATED: 10 Volkswagen Myths Everyone Just Believes (And 10 That Are True)

246 of these multicolored menageries were crafted, making them somewhat rare. The only downside is that the color scheme looks much more "mish-mashed" than it does anything fun and collector-worthy.

7 Nissan NX2000

Via: Jalopnik

Here's another odd design that should have never made it from paper to the assembly line. The NX2000 was the successor to the Nissan Pulsar, a strange automobile that featured swappable back-ends. It's easy to understand why that gimmick may not have worked and replacing the Pulsar was likely for the best.

Unfortunately, Nissan's replacement wouldn't fare much better. The NX2000 looks like a traditional coupe from every angle except the front. There is something supremely off-putting about the "squished" front-end. It's almost as if two completely different cars were fused together.

6 Eagle Talon TSi AWD

Via: Pinterest

Not all the vehicles featured on this list are complete abominations or poorly-designed rejects. Some of the models displayed, like the Eagle Talon TSi AWD, were simply forgotten as a byproduct of the era. The '90s were filled to the brim with competition and car manufacturers worked tirelessly to outdo their rivals.

The Eagle Talon simply fell into obscurity, thanks mostly to the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which much of the public fawned over. Sadly, this forced the Talon into the shadows but anyone who had an opportunity to drive and appreciate both vehicles will likely tell you that the Talon had a lot to offer. There are many that miss this long-forgotten Sportster.

5 Ford Aspire

Via: Wikipedia

The 90s tried their best to appeal to everyone. For each massive van or four-seater sedan, there was a two-door coupe ready to appeal to couples or single-drivers. This smaller design style gave vehicle creators a unique canvas in which to create some truly exciting shapes and contours.

RELATED: The Most Disappointing Ford Car Every Year Since 1995

Apparently, Ford didn't get the message and instead of gracing the world with a sporty coupe or a flashy two-door, they cranked out the Aspire. It's easy to understand why some people would classify this as an "egg." Past the wonky shape, there really isn't anything spectacular about the Aspire. This vehicle was doomed to fade into obscurity from the start.

4 Geo Metro Convertible

Via: Jalopnik

There are likely quite a few of you out there that at least recognize the name "Geo Metro" but many may be unaware that the model actually featured a convertible variant. For those unfamiliar, the Geo Metro was a sedan that was as "basic as they come." There wasn't much to write home about considering the Metro and you'd be hard pressed to sell the design as "cool or innovative."

The convertible version was even worse. There are some cars that simply shouldn't be converted and this was one of them. To make matters worse, this model showed up around the same time as Mazda's iconic Miata.

3 GMC Syclone

Via: Hemmings Motor News

Have you ever wanted to own a pickup truck with the heart of a supercar? Well, GMC apparently thought most people would. In 1991 they unveiled the Syclone, a small pickup capable of outrunning (from 0-60) many sports cars at the time. The truck itself could hit 60 MPH in an impressive 4.3 seconds and it was definitely tuned to be one of the fastest vehicles on the market.

The only issue? It was a pickup. While it was great at gaining speed, it lacked in other areas, specifically areas that pertain to pickups and their usefulness. GMC missed the main point in their design, that anyone looking to purchase a pickup is likely buying it for a very particular reason – to haul things.

2 Lotus Esprit

Via YouTube

When you think about the name Lotus, your mind is likely drawn to insanely expensive automobiles that demand performance and speed. Yes, many of the vehicles crafted under the Lotus brand are pricey and incredibly stylish but that doesn't mean all models are out of an "affordable" price range.

In the '90s, Lotus unveiled the Esprit, an iconic design (rather space age for its time) that is likely forgotten by much of the general public in the modern age. Yet, those who remember it can own one of these awesome autos for $20,000 - $30,000.

1 Panoz Roadster

Via: Road & Tack

This one is perhaps the most obscure vehicle on this list so we don't blame any of you if you don't recognize it. Panoz isn't exactly a well-known brand and there are likely some out there that have never heard of the custom sports car manufacturer. Founded in 1989, they've only produced a handful of models over the years.

This AIV Roadster is one of the earliest. It's definitely a head-turner and one of the cooler things to come out of the 90s.

NEXT: 12 Cars From The ‘90s Every Stud Drove (And 13 Only Duds Owned)