The community rep, known as EAUK_Phenom, had originally posted a picture of this map from two years ago without realising how old it was, in a discussion about the online demo. Then one of the other forum members picked up on discrepancies between that map and the one recently posted on Criterion's site. The recent map on Criterion's site is much smaller, with the island to the West and a huge area to the South missing along with other tweaks. We've posted both maps in our screenshot viewer (above right) so you can compare for yourself.
Chasing up the reason for the discrepancies, EAUK_Phenom reported back saying "That map was a 'prototype' and it's from two years ago."
"In the latest podcast (Episode 14), they talk about it (and the airport) and hint that they may consider this for downloadable content (DLC)," he explains. "They're very secretive about what DLC will be released, although they do say that it's going to be something "special", and that only releasing new cars would be boring - so I expect it to be new game modes or a new area."
Given the large differences between the maps - and that's large as in actual game area and significance - we're banking on those extra areas being downloadable content. But was it downsized deliberately or a natural cause and effect of tight development deadlines?