ORIGINAL: Downthrust
The same thing happened with the 60 inch 540T.
The opposite happened with the AeroWorks Yak 54 (60-90). Mine is a half pound lighter than the AW Red/White/Black Extra, which is the advertised weight with the advertised engine.
In actual fact the AeroWorks Extra260 (60-90), which is the same plane as this new Extra300 just with a more detailed cowl and different covering scheme, is decently light for it's size.
My AW Extra260 flies excellent with it's OS61. Not a 3D, but no need to worry about power for pattern flying. And everyone knows to step up a level for 3D.
Don't be pessimistic based on one or two like types. Heck don't be optimistic either. But odds look good that this covering scheme version will come in @ what the previous did. And that was the low weight of the two advertised on the box. We're not talking about a cheap, you don't get what you don't pay for model here.