This fine white MPV is a Mazda MPV, seen near the Wufang car market in east Beijing. The good Maz’ was in great general shape, but in need of a proper wax-job.
The second generation (LW) Mazda MPV was manufactured from 1999 until 2006 with a facelift in 2004. Our white car is a pre-facelift example. The MPV was mainly aimed at the North American market, but it was also sold in Europe and Japan.
The sec-gen MPV was not officially sold on the Chinese market, and this is indeed the very first one I have ever seen in country. Interestingly, the first and third generation were manufactured and sold in China. Mazda just completely skipped China for the second.
The interior was in very good shape; the seats especially look like new, and even the fake-wood panels look great.
The Mazda MPV was available with various petrol and diesel engines. The largest of which was the Ford-sourced Duratec 3.0 V6. Sadly, there were no engine badges on this car, so I can’t be sure what is under the bonnet.
The MPV seats seven in 2-3-2. The center seat in the middle row can fold into a table.
The original five-spoke wheel. It looks like the owner likes to hit the curbs.
For this picture I had to lean very far into the hedge. My trick: I grabbed a shared-bicycle and dropped it into the hedge first, and then I leaned onto the bicycle. This gave me the distance I needed. Recommended!
The cool looking MPV badge.
Beijing license plate is as old as the car.
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