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Comment by arscan | Hacker News Reader

I think this is in reaction to the confusion over Model 3 being the "next version" of the Model S. People might be holding off on buying the S because they think that the 3 is better.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/845278449811939328.

When asked why he named it Model 3 in that thread, his response was: "Because I was a dumb idiot and didn't realize at the time that it would cause confusion".

This mistake seems to have stuck with him -- he made a joke about it two months later when talking about naming his boring machines: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/860378029515718660

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It is should have been Model E, like it was originally intended.

But I heard that some people didn't like the idea of S/E/X...

Musk liked that joke but Ford has the "Model E" trademark

No, it was because Ford holds the trademark for Model E: http://insideevs.com/ford-motor-company-filed-for-model-e-tr...

Why not drop Model from the name? Porsche 911 vs Porsche Model 911. Tesla S vs Tesla Model S.

To me that looks more like a mistake from Porsche than an idea to replicate

I set it as no more a mistake than "Boeing 747" is over "Boeing Model 747" or "Mazda 626" or "Nissan GTR"

But "Tesla S" doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely.

Turns into 'tessless'

Ironically, the Porsche 911 was originally supposed to be the 901, but Citroen owned 901 so Porsche had to rename.

Someone needs to put together a history of vehicle naming conventions. Like things in the military, it's kind of fascinating how things wind up getting called what they do.

That, or they could try switching up the descriptor:

Tesla Type T

Tesla Version V

Tesla Mark III M

Tesla Ausf. A

So now we have S3X, which is much more 'elite' for the tech crowd ;)

Future Y crossover makes it "S3XY". I love a billionaire with a cheeky sense of humor.

Just wait for the Tesla Pickup... Model I ;)

I S3XY

Then the next version of the roadster... the Model M (play off BMW M series...ubiquitous already for performance)

IM S3XY

Model H

HI S3XY

>>People might be holding off on buying the S because they think that the 3 is better.

But model 3 is $35k vs Model S @ $80k-$120k. These feel like two very, very different markets.

You're assuming everyone is smart enough to realize that

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