I realize this thread is over a year old, but I wanted to add my perspective for anyone that may happen across it as I did. Comparing an Emira to a Blackwing is kind of an odd exercise, but there are those of us that find both cars extremely appealing -- but must choose.
When my 2015 Porsche Macan S aged out in 2022, I was very interested in getting back in a manual trans car and was smitten with the Emira. But the wait was too long and I went with the "little" CT4 Blackwing instead -- at least for a few years till the Emira became easier to obtain. I'm still smitten with the Emira, and I believe it may just be the perfect sports/GT car for me. I find the power "just right" (not too little, not too much), the hydraulic steering and overall "analog" nature of the car appealing, with just enough "conveniences" (Android Auto, etc), to make it modern. If I won the lottery and could buy any car in the world it would probably still be the Emira over Porsches, Ferraris, and Maclarens.
I have test driven the Emira twice (both test drives were V6 manuals). The first test drive was rushed and I didn’t learn much (other than I loved it). The 2nd test drive was longer and better. As we left the dealer we were in heavy traffic and the clutch felt too heavy, the brakes touchy, the shifter stiff, and the steering a bit slow. After a few minutes the road opened up and I was able to open up the Emira as well. Instantly the clutch felt perfect, the brakes spot on, the shifter precise, and the steering sublime! Especially as the road got twisty -- I felt very comfortable hustling it a little even though I was very new to the car. Driving an Emira makes you smile as much as looking at one does; it's infectious.
But what about my 3 years now in the baby BW? It is such a great car, it would be hard to give up. I haven't driven the Big Blackwing, which is clearly the better car and may go down as the best sports sedan of all time. But in several ways, I prefer the Little BW: the smaller chassis is a bit more tossable, the V6 Turbo is more usable around town than the V8 Super, and of course the price is considerably less. I would say the Little BW is almost as fun to drive as the Emira, and easier to drive when you can't be pushing it. It has a back seat and a real trunk so you can make airport runs and other daily tasks much easier. It's a GM product and will most likely be more reliable than the Lotus -- and there are a lot more Cadillac dealers for repairs and parts.
Although the Big Blackwing and the Emira are closer in price, my Little BW and the Emira are closer in performance. Both have V6 blown power, both have about the same lb/hp ratio, both have about the same 0-60 times, and both are renowned for their balance and poise on twisty roads – although the BW gets there with all GM’s magic in a decidedly non-analog way. But the great shifter makes it feel more analog than it really is.
Besides the obvious difference of one being a sedan and the other a pure sportscar, I think the other biggest difference between a BW and the Emira is front engine versus mid. The BW is extremely well balanced, but you definitely have to watch the rearend when you decide to put your foot in the power – it can be a lot of fun to move the back around, but you have to know when and how. The Emira, by contrast, in my limited time driving it felt much more planted due to the mid engine layout. You throw it into a turn and it seemed there wasn’t really any limit to how much power you could give it.
So, now I am at the 3 year mark with the BW and I have to decide do I keep this really great car – or do I finally get my dream car of all time? Unquestionably, the BW is the better daily driver. Other than hauling and offroading, there really isn’t anything you can’t use it for, and it’s still fun to drive 100% of the time, and when you can push it you are rewarded with an almost sports car level of feel and performance. Whereas, the Emira is IMHO the best looking car perhaps ever, the perfect size and performance package, and could work well-enough as a daily driver – but wouldn’t be able to do everything one needs a car to do.
Ideally, I think I would get the Emira AND another Macan – or a little pick-up, so between the two I would have all my auto bases covered (even adding dirt roads and light hauling that I can’t do in the BW). But that would raise the cost of getting the Emira to $125,000 to $150,000 instead of $100,000ish.
So, until budget and garage room permits, I think I’ll “probably” keep the Little BW. It can’t hold a candle to the Emira’s looks, and when really pushed it isn’t quite as visceral and rewarding, but it is so easy to live with and is much more practical while still being very, very fun to drive.
But notice I said “probably.” The siren song of the Emira is unrelenting.
