Lotus CEO sparks backlash saying every sports car weighing over 1.8 tons is mediocre

Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng publicly said during the media event that every sports car weighing above 1.8 tons is mediocre. This quote immediately went viral on Chinese social media as every new energy vehicle under this ex-British brand, including the Lotus Evija hypercar, weighs way more than this 1.8-ton threshold.

Feng Qingfeng said during the media event that Lotus set a new benchmark for its sports cars’ weight. It should be less than 1.8 tons. The CEO highlighted that any sports car exceeding this weight is mediocre. At the same time, he pointed out that the high peak power number is worthless. In the era of electrification, horsepower is easily obtained, leading to bad handling. Feng Qingfeng shared that even a 2,000-hp car weighing over 1.8 tons is mediocre.

Lotus’s aspirations are quite commendable. However, the company’s CEO failed to realize that his statement was sabotaging his own brand’s model lineup. The thing is, every BEV & PHEV car with the Lotus badge weighs above 1.8 tons. This list includes the Eletre and the Emeya, which are marketed as “hyper SUV” and “hyper-GT”, respectively.

Moreover, even the Evija hypercar with 1,500 kW (2,011 hp) and a starting price of 2.3 million USD weighs more than 1.8 tons. We listed the curb weight of those models below.

• Lotus Evija – 1,894 kg

• Lotus Emeya – 2,455 kg

• Lotus Eletre – 2,600 kg

• Lotus Eletre X (For Me) – 2,625 kg

Only the petrol-powered Lotus Emira fits the brand CEO’s exceptional standards with a curb weight of 1,460 kg. So, it is the only true sports car among other mediocre vehicles in the lineup. Jokes aside, Feng Qingfeng is probably hinting that the brand’s recently revealed V8-powered PHEV sports car will have a curb weight below 1.8 tons. It will enter the market in 2028.