Is This The 2015 Mazda2?

A Japanese magazine feature has stirred talk of Mazda's next-generation 2 hatch this week, but the authenticity of this single image remains unclear. 

The small photo shows a front-quarter look at a hatch clearly inspired by Mazda's new 3, 6 and CX-5, and it's possible that the new Mazda2 could look a little like this. 

But is the image a legitimate photo of the new Mazda2? We don't know, but we suspect not. According to Japanese website Minkara, the magazine article dates back to February.

The article describes the car as the new デミオ ('Demio', the 2's name in Japan), but with an official debut not expected to occur until next year, it's unlikely that complete marketing photos of the final production car even exist.

A well-fabricated rendering is what we'd call this image, and the digitally drawn look of the front bumper adds credence to that perspective. 

Little has been revealed about the new Mazda2, although recent reports have claimed that the light hatch will ride on a shortened version of the larger Mazda3 and CX-5 platform. 

Expect Mazda's latest-generation SkyActiv technologies to feature throughout, including its petrol and diesel engines, automatic transmission and lightweight construction. 

Watch for the new 2 to debut sometime in the next 18 months. 

• Mazda2 | Light Cars