No, This Isn't a Real Mazda Sports Car Teaser. It's AI

I like to think I’m pretty good at spotting AI slop. However, as artificial intelligence tools evolve at an alarming pace, I’ll admit it’s getting harder to tell the difference. In fact, I almost fell for this supposed teaser of Mazda’s upcoming debut at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. It closely resembles the official rendering released a few days ago, right down to the “You’ll want a closer look” caption.

As much as I wish it were real, the truth is we’re looking at an obvious fake. Despite the initial similarities, there’s a simple way to spot the discrepancy between the two images. A closer look at the rear door’s shutline reveals where AI slipped up. On the actual Mazda teaser, the rear door extends farther back, overlapping more than half the wheel arch. On the AI-generated image, the door ends ahead of the rear wheel.

Fake Mazda teaser

Real Mazda teaser

Once you notice that subtle difference, it’s easier to see the slightly altered greenhouse and beltline. Ironically, rearward visibility appears better on the AI car, since it lacks the massive blind spot of Mazda’s swoopy teaser. The fake image even gives off Jaguar F-Type vibes, just with four doors. It’s a convincing effort, if only it were genuine.

Even if Mazda’s real car turns out to be a 2+2 sports model signaling a revival of the RX-8 or a Mazda6 redux, there’s still a bigger issue. The fact that so many people are being fooled by AI images paints a grim picture for the internet’s future. With AI tools readily available and creators chasing clicks, this is only the beginning.

Fake renderings aren’t new, of course, but it’s worth reminding ourselves to double-check what we see online. If it’s not from an official media channel, chances are someone’s trying to dupe you.

Fake Mazda teaser (brightness modified)

Real Mazda teaser (brightness modified)

As for the real deal, the wraps come off in just a few days. Mazda will unveil the sleek sedan (or is it a hatchback, maybe a liftback?) on October 29. It’s labeled as a “Vision” car, which is a fancy way of saying concept. We already suspected as much, judging by the tiny side cameras and the lack of visible door handles.

Mazda has made it clear that a new 6 with inline-six engines isn’t happening due to low projected demand. The nameplate has, in a sense, already returned in the form of the fully electric 6e, sold in select markets as Mazda’s version of a Chinese-market EV. A rear-wheel-drive coupe based on the CX-60’s platform has also been officially ruled out, suggesting this concept points in a different direction.

Since it doesn’t share the silhouette of an SUV, the next Vision concept might preview the next-generation Mazda3. After all, the current model has been around since 2019. Whatever this turns out to be, one thing’s for sure: it’s not what some people are trying to trick you into believing it is.