(AP)
Elon Musk’s relentless pursuit of S-E-X is a turn-on for branding experts — and one sex therapist said it could signal the Tesla boss’ prowess in the sack.
The electric-car maker’s chief executive originally wanted to call the upcoming “Model 3” sedan the “Model E.” That way, Tesla’s main product line would consist of the Model S, the Model E and the Model X, spelling “S-E-X.”
Musk’s bold, libidinous vision advanced the tactics Detroit has been using for a century now, with leggy models and constant talk of “curves” and “clutches,” says Adam Hanft, a New York-based brand strategist.
“From the very beginning, cars have been sold on a Freudian basis,” Hanft told The Post.
But, as any rabid Tesla fan can tell you, Ford two years ago foiled that plan when it refused to sell Tesla its rights to the “Model E” trademark.
Musk’s scrappy solution? Call it the “Model 3,” because a “3” looks like an “E” in the rearview mirror.
Last week, Musk confirmed that the “3” will actually be rendered as three sleek, horizontal lines — which look like an “E” as much as they do a “3.”
“Why is he so committed that he has to make the ‘E’ backwards to get her done? I would bet he has very high testosterone levels,” celebrity sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman said, noting that high-testosterone males are typically driven, risk-taking types.
“That also may help explain the ‘S-E-X’ obsession — he’s a creative thinker who thinks outside the box,” said Berman, adding that, “because of his high levels, he’s probably a magnificent sexual partner.”
Still, Musk is obviously channeling much of his hormonal energy into his industrial pursuits, says Sari Locker, a sex educator at Columbia University.
“For a powerful, innovative man, tapping into his sexual thoughts might be a great source of energy,” Locker said. “He has figured out how to harness the power of his sex drive to create cars.”
While Musk missed out on “Model E,” he has managed to secure the trademark for “Model Y” — a final letter to spell out “SEXY” — for a future model that some expect will be a crossover Model 3.