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    CultureMap Auto Awards

    Smart Energy Car of the Year: 2014 Mazda 6 SKYACTIV is sexy and affordable

    Nic Phillips
    Jan 11, 2014 | 3:50 pm

    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:

    Smart Energy Vehicle of the Year:2014 Mazda 6 SKYACTIV with i-ELOOP

    Sometimes making what is "old" new again while getting back to basics yields the greatest innovations, and that's precisely what Mazda has done with its Mazda 6 midsize sedan. The sexy-shaped 6 isn't an electric or a hybrid; there is no plug, and its engine runs on regular, not premium, gas.

    Yet at its top-level trim, the car delivers downright diesel-like economy of 28 mpg city/40 highway. That's with an automatic transmission; the manual actually gets slightly lower ratings.

    Sometimes making what is "old" new again while getting back to basics yields the greatest innovations, and that's precisely what Mazda has done.

    Wait. That all seems backward. A true midsize car running regular gas in an engine mated to an automatic in its most luxurious trim getting the best efficiency? That's SKYACTIV — Mazda's brand that squeezes out every ounce of efficiency without sacrificing the drive or design.

    It's a philosophy in which the chassis, engine, transmission and the recovery of otherwise wasted energy are designed in harmony to deliver near-hybrid efficiency without electrification, complex battery systems and boring dynamics.

    Although not a hybrid per say, the Mazda 6's i-ELOOP technology is sort of like a hybrid in that it captures electric energy from the brakes. Rather than store that energy in a battery, i-ELOOP very quickly charges a capacitor bank. That energy is used to power the electric systems that normally tax the gas engine. The result is more horsepower to move the wheels and less fuel used for the lights and steering. That's SKYACTIV.

    Mazda 6 is smart energy and smart value too, with the highest priced Grand Touring trim, including the all-in GT Technology Package, coming in at $32,570. That includes luxury and safety features like radar cruise control, active collision alert and Smart City Braking, lane departure warning and automatic high-beam HID headlights — features not found on many cars costing twice the price.

    Smart Energy Vehicle Runner-up: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

    VW has a reputation for being different, and the Jetta Hybrid doesn't disappoint. Whereas most sub-$30K hybrids have puny engines augmented by weak electric motors and transmissions with no speeds, the Jetta has a turbo and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission — the first in a hybrid.

    The DSG® Transmission is simply marvelous, delivering precise, manual-like shifts nearly instantaneously. When coupled with its innovative hybrid module — a single, integrated unit that incorporates both the electric motor and a clutch that connects it to the engine — acceleration is smooth and torque constant.

    Several drive modes allow for all-electric drive up to 44 mph, and an "active boost" mode gives full turbo-engine and electric assist for more spirited performance. All of this efficiency intelligence is presented to the driver by way of special power gauge that replaces what is normally the tachometer, making for the most clear and concise status display of any hybrid out there.

    So why is the Jetta Hybrid not an overall winner? Price.

    It's about $4,000 more than the already fuel frugal Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, and although the hybrid is the most fuel-efficient VW, with an EPA estimated 42 mpg city/48 highway rating, it requires premium gas, making for a longish return on investment.

    2013 Mazda 6 SKYACTIV with i-ELOOP is the CultureMap Smart Energy Car of the Year.

    2013 Mazda 6
      
    Photo by Kevin McCauley
    2013 Mazda 6 SKYACTIV with i-ELOOP is the CultureMap Smart Energy Car of the Year.
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    Women Rule

    Carrollton CEO makes list of fastest growing women businesses in U.S.

    Raven Jordan
    May 8, 2025 | 3:30 pm
    Buzzballs
    Buzzballs
    Buzzballs' Merrilee Kick

    A CEO based in Carrollton was recently named one of the fastest-growing women-led businesses in the United States: Merrilee Kick, founder of spherical cocktail brand BuzzBallz, made the top five on nonprofit Women President Organization's 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list.

    BuzzBallz, which is in the fourth spot on the list, was founded by Kick in 2009 and acquired by spirits company Sazerac in 2024. Following a career as a high school teacher, Kick decided to create ready-to-drink cocktails, such as martinis and margaritas, served in a plastic can rather than a glass.

    To be considered for this list, businesses must operate under the leadership of a woman, and have a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue for each of the previous five years. Plus, they must have sustained substantial year-over-year growth, demonstrating post-pandemic recovery in industries like travel and hospitality, health and wellness, manufacturing, and food and beverage.

    The top five include:

    1. Collette led by President and CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
    2. Unite Digital led by President and CEO Stacey Coopes, based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
    3. Embark Beyond led by Co-founder and Managing Partner Julie Danziger, based in New York City, New York
    4. BuzzBallz (Southern Champion) led by CEO and Founder Merrilee Kick, based in Carrollton, Texas
    5. Cymbiotika led by CEO Durana Elmi, based in San Diego, California

    Kick joins two other Texas business owners on the list — both in Houston — including Pamela Chambers O'Rourke, founder and CEO of Icon Information Consultants, and Tara Harmon-Kramer, owner of Meltar Supply, at sixth and 23rd place on the list respectively.

    According to a release, businesses on this year’s list collectively generated more than $7 billion in gross revenue, and employed more than 15,000 people, in 2024.

    Most of the selected companies offer remote work arrangements and parental leave, and company milestones included major contracts secured and national retailer launches.

    “With a strong commitment to innovation, purpose, and people, these companies exemplify the essential role women-owned and led businesses play in building a more sustainable and inclusive economy," says CEO of the Women Presidents Organization Camille Burns in a statement. "This recognition is more than a milestone — it’s a powerful affirmation of the transformative influence women have in shaping modern business."

    The 50 Fastest list is sponsored by J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking, and participation was open to all qualifying businesses.

    A comprehensive evaluation process then ranked all eligible companies using a proprietary sales growth formula that factored in both percentage and absolute growth, finalizing the WPO’s selection of the top 50 performers for recognition.

    Honorees will be recognized during a ceremony at the WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum at The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio on May 8.

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