Tear Around Beijing in a Tesla: Ritz-Carlton Financial Street Offers Test Drive and Tea

The afternoon tea: synonymous with civility and serenity. Tesla Model S: a new paradigm for speed. Enjoy them both in Beijing in a single three-hour period.

That's what the Ritz-Carlton Financial Street is offering from now through May 31 as part of their "Tesla Tea Time" promotion. It's a good deal: for RMB 318 (plus service charge) for two people, there's a selection of traditional English afternoon tea treats, including mango chocolate tartlet with milk Chantilly cream, assorted macaroons, and blueberry cheesecake (the latter is really delicious), about 16 items in total, plus a choice of coffees and teas. It's lovely, and it's also available for one if a suitable companion isn't found on the day.

But probably it's the car and not just the cakes that will justify the trip out west. The Tesla Model S sells for about RMB 650,000 locally, the first nine of which were delivered in Beijing in 2014. I'd seen at least three on the street, based on different colors. I was a bit of a Tesla doubter, never having driven an electric car before, but think of it this way: for RMB 318+, you get to drive a car that sells for about USD 100,000.

I was given a full briefing by helpful Tesla rep, Martin. The car is comfy – I would have sat in it for a lot longer than the 15 minutes of introduction and drive time I received. When I sat down, the air conditioning was already on, something that can be started in advance of departure using a Tesla app. Unlike a gasoline-powered car, the Tesla Model S's entire system doesn't need to start up prior just to run the A/C while the car is stopped.

It's like driving a car with an iPad: except for the pedals and steering wheel, almost every other input occurs via a large, iPad-like display screen in the middle of the car's front panel. That screen has its own 3G connection, and can access navigation and even a web browser (helpful for Beijing's traffic). Navigation is mirrored next to the driver's speedometer, as is the length of battery charge. Martin said that one charge can take the car from Beijing to Jinan in Shandong province, just over 500 kilometers.

In a demonstration on a clear piece of road, Martin pinned me to my seat by putting the pedal to the floor. I was shocked by the car's power, but also by it's smooth braking to a stop at the next traffic light.

In the driver's seat myself, the Tesla responded better than BMWs I've driven. The biggest difference was that the electric pedal (formerly known as the gas pedal) was stiffer than most other cars I've handled, but response was quick, and when the pedal is released, it decelerates in the same way as gas-powered cars – I had been told that other electric cars begin braking once a foot is off the pedal.

Cruising around Financial Street didn't provide much opportunity to open the Tesla up, but in the couple of instances where I was able to give it some juice to pass or switch lanes swiftly, the response was immediate. Pulling back into the Ritz-Carlton Financial Street's parking lot, it was a ride that ended too quickly.

The worst part of the experience was hailing a Beijing taxi to go back east. Suddenly I wished I had a spare RMB 650,000 sitting around.

"Tesla Tea Time" is available from 2-5pm, until May 31. For reservations, call 6601 6666 ext 6231.

More stories by this author here.

Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @greatwriteshark
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Photos: Steven Schwankert/the Beijinger, courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Financial Street