CultureMap Auto Awards

Best New Design of the Year: Thanks to BMW i-Series the future is here

Editor's note: In the second annual CultureMap Auto Awards, our automotive correspondents Nic Phillips and Kevin McCauley bestow honors in 10 categories for the top cars and trucks of 2013/2014. Next up:

Best New Design: 2014 BMW i Models

The significance of the BMW i-Series was best summed up for us when, under his breath, a rival automaker's head of design shared his surprise upon realizing the pair of BMW i3 and i8 models on display at the 2014 North American Auto Show were not concept cars but full-on production ready automobiles coming to dealerships in mere months. Concept cars typically convey carmakers' wildest dreams of what a future model could be — design cues, materials and technologies that may or may not make the light of day.

But in the BMW i-Series, we have the future of cars today. The i-Series is introduced in the form of two models: the urban transport i3 full-electric drive and the plug-in hybrid i8 super sports car — destined to be the eco-friendly super car of the A-listers

Starting around $40,000 before government incentives of $7,500 or more, the BMW i3 is an incredible value.

The significance of the i3 is more than just future-forward looks; it's the first mass-production car with a carbon-fiber passenger cell mated to a high-strength chassis, which carries the electric motor drive, batteries and suspension components. Known as "BMW LifeDrive," the concept does away with the bulk of intrusions into a conventional car's interior, creating a flat floor throughout and incredible weight savings. The i3 weighs 345 pounds less than the diminutive FIAT 500e and 650 pounds less than Nissan Leaf all-electrics.

BMW takes sustainability to a whole new level with interior materials like kenaf, a hemp-like natural fiber used on the door panels; shaped open-pore eucalyptus wood inserts on the dashboard that, over time will change color with exposure to the sun; and futuristic ultra-thin seats yielding significantly more leg space for rear passengers while saving weight. The carbon-fiber body isn't completely covered up inside with the exposed bits serving as another reminder of how special the space-efficient i3 is at its core.

Starting around $40,000 before government incentives of $7,500 or more, the i3 is an incredible value, which explains why BMW already has more than 10,000 orders.

Opposite the city-dwelling i3 is the sex-on-wheels i8. While standing still, it's moving, and when moving it's a blur — blowing past everything on the road.

The two-seater is a stunner of a sports car not only in looks but also in performance, with an electric motor on the front wheels and a mid-mounted twin-turbo combustion engine on the rear wheels. Working together the system promises benchmark performance at all four wheels, while separately the electric motor drives with all-electric efficiency, and the gas engine generates power to the wheels and batteries.

It's a hybrid concept other automakers have suggested and theorized about. BMW has delivered and sold out the initial availability.

Best New Design Runner-up: 2014 Cadillac CTS Sedan

Although not the concept-come-reality of the BMW i-Series, Cadillac's all-new CTS is every bit as important in the transformation of the storied brand from Grandma's ride to today's drive. When first introduced in 2002, the CTS was the first demonstration of Cadillac's "Art and Science" design philosophy and now enters its third generation as the volume leader of the brand, making it the most important model to get right.

We feel it does just that, incorporating the trim, athletic yet distinct Cadillac character of the smaller ATS, our pick for last year's CultureMap Car of the Year, successfully scaling all that was good up to its mid-size luxury frame. It's that new size that's probably most significant, as previous CTS models had a clouded identity straddling rivals' compact and mid-size luxury models. This CTS is a clear competitor to the BMW 5-series, Mercedes Benz E-class, Lexus GS and Infiniti M.

The all new CTS is the clear design leader in its newfound class and is most definitely worthy of consideration, unless of course you're looking for Grandma's Cadillac. This isn't it. (The XTS fills that role.)

The i3's revolutionary Lifedrive chassis and carbon-fibre passenger cell.

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Money News

E.Sun Bank from Taiwan opens first location in buzzy Dallas market

Courtesy

E. SUN Bank

There's a new bank in town: E.Sun Bank, a financial institution from Taiwan, has opened a representative office in Dallas, at 2323 Ross Ave #730 — becoming the first Taiwanese bank in the city.

Founded in 1992, E.Sun Bank is one of Taiwan’s leading financial institutions, known for its customer-centric approach, digital innovation, and commitment to sustainability, with a growing international footprint in 35 locations across 11 countries.

The Dallas office is the second E.Sun location in the U.S. following Los Angeles, expanding its footprint to serve Taiwanese, Asian, and U.S. enterprises.

It marks Phase 1 of E.Sun’s Dallas expansion, with plans to offer full banking services — including corporate and commercial lending, trade finance, real estate project loans, and cross-border advisory support — after they receive regulatory approval to operate as a U.S. branch. In the interim, clients will be referred to E.Sun’s Los Angeles branch, ensuring seamless service continuity and responsive support for businesses navigating international growth.

A press release notes that Dallas is riding "unprecedented momentum," leading the nation in corporate headquarters relocations and business expansions in recent years. (The release even credits CultureMap Dallas for this declaration, making this absolutely one of the best press releases ever sent out in the history of PR.)

Fueled by a pro-business climate, a surge in tech sector investment, and the launch of the Texas Stock Exchange, the region has become a magnet for international capital — including major commitments from Taiwanese companies such as GlobalWafers, Foxconn, Wistron, and Inventec.

To celebrate the opening of its Dallas office, E.Sun hosted a gala event on October 30 which was attended by Chairman Huang, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno, Director General Yvonne Hsiao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, members of the Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from both U.S. and Taiwanese enterprises. The evening culminated in a cultural performance by the E.Sun choir, symbolizing the bank’s commitment to bridging cultures as well as economies.

The Dallas office complements the recently launched Taiwan Trade and Investment Center and reflects the deepening partnership between Taiwan and Texas, a relationship further reinforced by record-setting bilateral trade — totalling $25.6 billion in 2024 — and the launch of a direct Taipei-Dallas flight, which underscore the growing ties between the two economies. And let's not forget Taiwan concepts like Chicha San Chen, the Taiwanese tea chain that recently opened a location in Carrollton, where it's drawing lines around the block.

“Our new Dallas office is more than geographic expansion—it’s a commitment to powering the economic synergy between Taiwan and Texas,” says E.SUN Financial Holding Company chairman Joseph Huang. “As the region attracts global capital and innovative industries, we are proud to serve as both catalyst and cornerstone for the next era of U.S.-Asia partnership, supporting Taiwanese enterprises and facilitating mutually beneficial investments.”

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