Did you know Vigilante 8 was initially envisioned as a prequel to Interstate ’76? One curious piece of its history revolves around Jade Champion, a vehicle originally considered for inclusion in the V8 universe. But why was Jade ultimately cut, or why wasn’t it reimagined as a full-fledged V8 character like the rest of the lineup? The reasons remain shrouded in mystery.
For years, this enigmatic car was locked away, only glimpsed in low-resolution trailers and early promotional materials. Fast forward to the release of Vigilante 8 Arcade, and an intriguing twist emerged. Among the unlockable bonus “classic” skins, Chassey’s Rattler was unexpectedly swapped out for the Piranha—Jade Champion’s original model. This surprising revelation finally cracked open the lid on Jade’s hidden legacy, giving fans a tangible connection to its elusive origins.
Interestingly, for the V8 Arcade release, the iconic “JADE” license plate was scrubbed clean. For this port, however, I’ve restored it to its rightful place, bringing the car one step closer to its authentic roots.
If you’re curious, you can find this port in the Midtown Madness 2 mods section. And for a deeper dive into Jade’s journey, including rare early screenshots and videos of the Piranha in action, don’t miss the Vigilante 8 Repository. It’s a treasure trove of insight into this forgotten chapter of V8 history.
