Durango Hellcat Review; Waymo vs Taxi; Mercedes Update

“Market price” here means the going value of the car based on what buyers are currently paying, not the giveaway price or a dealer sticker price. In enthusiast circles, it often implies the car’s real-world resale value.

The R32 is the 1989–1994 generation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R, one of the most iconic “Godzilla” era GT-Rs. The hosts compare the car’s speed and feel against an R32 to set expectations for performance.

A “boost curve” describes how turbocharger boost pressure builds and changes over engine RPM. When someone says it’s “Skyline-y,” they mean the boost comes on in a similar way—often affecting how quickly the car feels fast.

In this context, “engine” is being used as shorthand for the car’s powerplant character—how it delivers torque and responds like the Skyline. It’s not a specific part name, but it’s central to the comparison being made.

“GT-R” is Nissan’s performance model name, known for all-wheel-drive traction and a reputation for strong acceleration and track capability. Here, the speaker contrasts the GT-R’s “focus” with the car they’re driving.

The host compares the seat shape to an Acura Legend, using it as a reference point for comfort and design. The Acura Legend is a mid-size luxury sedan, so the comparison suggests the Lotus Carlton’s seats feel upscale and supportive.

“Third gear” is a specific ratio in the transmission. When the host says it “goes” in third gear, they’re describing how strongly the car accelerates at that point in the rev/gear range.

The Lotus Carlton is a rare, high-performance sedan built by Lotus based on the Opel/Vauxhall Carlton platform. It’s known for being extremely quick for its era and for its limited production numbers, which is why the hosts are impressed by how “real” and fast it feels.

An intercooler is a heat exchanger used on turbocharged engines to cool the compressed air before it enters the engine. Cooler, denser air improves combustion and helps performance and knock resistance.

“Air-to-air” describes an intercooler design where hot charge air is cooled by passing air through a radiator-like core. It’s typically mounted where airflow is available (often in the front) and is common on performance turbo cars.

This is a performance claim referring to the car’s top speed or acceleration achievements at the time. In enthusiast discussions, it usually means the model set a notable benchmark among sedans in that era.

Limited production numbers like “only made 950” indicate the car is rare, which often increases collector interest and can affect pricing. It also helps explain why the hosts are treating it like a special find.

A supercharged V8 uses a belt-driven compressor (“supercharger”) to force more air into the engine. More air generally means more fuel can be burned, which boosts power compared with the same engine without forced induction.

The Dodge Durango Hellcat is a high-performance version of the Durango SUV, powered by the Hellcat engine family. It’s known for bringing “muscle car” power to an SUV body, which is why it’s a big deal in enthusiast circles.

“Hellcat jailbreak” refers to a Hellcat-branded Dodge with the Jailbreak package/trim theme, which typically bundles styling and performance-oriented options. The key idea is that it’s not just a base Hellcat—it’s a specific option/trim configuration.

“Destroyer” is a specific paint color name used by Dodge. They’re discussing how the color sounds and how it compares to another color name, emphasizing that the naming is part of the brand’s personality.

The Dodge Challenger is a muscle car that stays relevant through ongoing updates and special editions. The podcast says it “remains current,” and references a “Durango Hellcat jailbreak,” which suggests they’re discussing performance models and how they keep their appeal. It’s mentioned because it’s part of the broader conversation about modern muscle-car value and continuity.

The “Charger” is Dodge’s performance sedan line, often associated with the brand’s muscle-car heritage. In this segment, they’re comparing paint color between a Charger and the Dodge Durango Hellcat.

“Battleship Grey” is a descriptive paint color shade they’re equating to the Dodge color name “Destroyer.” It’s a common automotive/industrial way to describe a muted, military-style gray.

The hosts reference the “Fast and Furious” franchise as the context for a brand partnership. This is more of a pop-culture/marketing reference than a technical automotive topic.

Ferrari is an Italian performance and racing brand. The hosts mention it as a “dream job” destination for engineers, connecting the idea of automotive engineering careers to top-tier motorsport companies.

Rivian is an electric-vehicle brand known for trucks and SUVs. In this segment it’s mentioned as an alternative dream employer for engineers, alongside traditional performance brands.

“HPD day” refers to a high-performance driving event where participants get track time to drive cars in a more controlled, performance-focused setting. The key idea is that it’s about limited on-track sessions and maximizing useful laps.

“Seat time” is the amount of time a driver actually spends behind the wheel during an event. In track contexts, more seat time usually means more learning, more confidence, and better lap consistency.

Road Atlanta is another major U.S. road course, known for technical corners and elevation changes. The speaker references it to describe prior track experience with a similar high-performance vehicle.

Uconnect is Chrysler/Stellantis’ in-car infotainment system, including the touchscreen interface, menus, and connectivity features. The hosts are comparing how the UI felt in the older car versus newer systems.

Adaptive radar cruise control uses a radar sensor to automatically adjust your speed to maintain a set distance from the car ahead. Unlike basic cruise control, it can slow down and speed back up as traffic changes.

A radar sensor is used to detect objects and measure distance and relative speed, which is critical for systems like adaptive cruise control. If the radar is blocked or contaminated, the system may disable itself or throw errors.

“CEL” typically refers to the Check Engine Light (or a related engine/emissions control warning). When a CEL-related sensor error appears, it can trigger safety/driver-assistance systems to disable—like adaptive cruise—until the fault clears.

When adaptive cruise control is “disabled,” the car’s system has determined it can’t safely operate the feature—often due to sensor faults, calibration issues, or warning lights. The feature may return after the underlying error clears.

This refers to the car’s non-adaptive cruise control mode, which maintains a set speed without automatically adjusting for traffic ahead. If adaptive cruise is disabled due to a sensor fault, the car may still allow (or block) the regular cruise depending on the error.

“Regular cruise” is the non-adaptive cruise control mode that keeps a chosen speed without radar-based following-distance control. In some fault conditions, the car may disable both adaptive and regular cruise until the warning clears.

“Hit the brakes” refers to the moment the driver initiates heavy braking to slow the car for a corner or braking zone. In track talk, it’s used to compare braking confidence and stopping performance between vehicles.

A “front straight” is the main straight section of a circuit where cars build speed before braking for the next corner. It’s relevant because the speed at the end of the straight determines how hard and how late the brakes must be applied.

Cornering speed is how fast a car can travel through a turn while maintaining grip and stability. The hosts use it to compare performance between cars, noting a large difference in how quickly they can carry speed through corners.

“Brembo four-wheel disc” describes a brake system using disc brakes on all four wheels, supplied by Brembo. The hosts are contrasting this spec with what they observed on track (brake fade from overheating) and with the Trackhawk’s more aggressive brake hardware.

Brake “pistons” are the hydraulic pistons inside the caliper that clamp the brake pads onto the rotor. More pistons generally allow more clamping force and can improve heat handling and braking consistency during repeated stops.

“Beast brakes” is a descriptive phrase for a very high-performance brake setup—typically larger rotors and more capable calipers/pads—meant to resist fade during repeated hard stops. The hosts use it to emphasize how serious the Trackhawk’s braking hardware is.

The Lamborghini Urus is a high-performance luxury SUV that blends SUV practicality with supercar-level performance. The podcast references “serious” brakes and compares them to “Urus level brakes,” implying the vehicle being discussed had very strong stopping power. It’s mentioned because the Urus is known for being a performance-focused SUV.

“Turn one” is the first corner on a race circuit, often the most heavily braked and most critical for getting the right line. The hosts mention braking for turn one to describe how the car performs under initial hard braking.

Aura Frames is a brand of digital photo frames that let you upload and display photos/videos remotely. The hosts describe features like unlimited storage, preloading content before shipping, and adding media from anywhere.

Wirecutter is a consumer product review site that publishes rankings and recommendations. In the segment, it’s used as a credibility claim for Aura Frames.

The Carver Mat frame is a specific product line within Aura Frames’ offerings. The segment mentions a promo discount code for this product.

Delete Me is a service brand referenced as a sponsor. The hosts say it makes removing personal information quick, easy, and safe.

Temperature cycling is repeated heating and cooling of brake components during driving and braking. It can lead to brake fade, changes in pad/rotor behavior, and sometimes cracking or uneven wear if the materials can’t handle the thermal swings.

Metallurgy here refers to the material properties and heat-handling characteristics of the brake components (often rotors/pads/calipers). Better metallurgy can improve heat tolerance and reduce warping or performance drop during repeated braking.

A pace lap is a controlled lap driven at a set speed to warm up conditions and get the field ready for the start. The host is describing the driver’s reaction after completing those laps in the pace vehicle.

A “hot rod” is a car that’s been modified or tuned for strong acceleration and an exciting driving feel. In this context, it’s used to describe the Durango’s surprisingly aggressive character despite being a family SUV.

The speaker compares the Durango’s price to a Genesis crossover, implying a similar budget category. Genesis is a luxury brand, and “crossover” refers to a car type that blends SUV practicality with passenger-car comfort.

The Hyundai Genesis refers to the Genesis brand/line of vehicles, positioned as Hyundai’s upscale offering. The podcast mentions “700 horsepower,” which indicates a performance-focused Genesis variant being discussed. It’s brought up because it’s an example of a high-power luxury car concept within the Genesis lineup.

Horsepower is a measure of engine power—how strongly the engine can produce work. When the speaker says it’s “700 horsepower,” they’re emphasizing how much acceleration potential the vehicle has.

“Three rows” means the vehicle has seating for three rows of passengers, typically allowing up to seven or eight people depending on the configuration. The speaker is highlighting practicality alongside the high-performance theme.

To “tow” means pulling a trailer behind the vehicle. The speaker is pointing out that, despite being a high-power SUV, it can still handle towing tasks.

Gas mileage is how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, usually expressed as miles per gallon (MPG). The speaker is contrasting best-case efficiency with worse real-world numbers in traffic.

The EPA cycle is the standardized test procedure used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to estimate a car’s fuel economy. Real-world driving often differs because factors like speed, traffic, and driving style aren’t identical to the test.

“Octane” is a measure of a fuel’s resistance to knocking (premature combustion) in an engine. Higher-octane fuel is often recommended for high-compression or high-boost engines to help them run safely under load.

“Cumulative” here refers to an overall fuel-economy figure for the whole trip, combining driving conditions rather than a single moment. The “12-4” style number is a shorthand for how many miles per gallon (or similar) the group averaged across the route.

USB-A is the older, rectangular USB connector shape commonly found on cars and electronics. If your devices use a different plug (like USB-C), you may need an adapter to charge or connect them.

Track mode is a driving setting that changes vehicle behavior for more aggressive use. It typically firms up suspension response and may adjust throttle, steering, and stability/traction settings to better suit circuit driving.

A curb is the raised edge at the side of a road or track. Drivers often talk about curbs because hitting them can unsettle the car, and some curbs are designed to be safer to ride over than others.

In racing, a “line” is the path the car takes through a corner. A “big line” typically means taking a wider arc—often to carry more speed or set up the next part of the track.

WRL is referenced as a racing-related group or series via “the commentator for WRL.” Listeners may want context on what WRL stands for and what kind of racing it covers.

“Cut a tire” means damaging a tire’s sidewall or tread by scraping it against something sharp, like curb edges or debris. It’s a common risk when tires contact curbing at speed.

Road America is a well-known road course in the United States, famous for its long corners and elevation changes. Track-specific curb designs can strongly influence racing lines and how much grip you get when you run wide.

Grip is how well a tire can hold the road surface without sliding. On race tracks, grip varies by surface and by whether you’re on asphalt, curb material, or grass, which is why drivers talk about percentages of grip.

“Exit of 14” refers to a specific numbered exit on a road course or highway segment. The speaker is describing where they take a particular line through a corner/transition area.

Fuel economy is how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, usually measured as miles per gallon (MPG) or liters per 100 km. Lower fuel economy typically means higher operating costs and more frequent refueling.

The Dodge Durango RT is a trim of the Durango that, in this discussion, is being compared for towing capability. The key point is that the RT can be configured with a tow package and self-leveling suspension, which helps it handle heavier trailers.

Self-leveling suspension is a system that automatically adjusts the suspension height when the vehicle is loaded or towing. That helps keep the headlights, ride height, and trailer geometry more consistent, which can improve stability and allow higher towing ratings.

“Track mileage” is a colloquial way to describe how hard a car is being used—like driving aggressively or under sustained load—rather than literal miles. The point they’re making is that towing can feel like punishing use, which can be rough on the vehicle.

“TRX” refers to the Ram TRX, a high-powered pickup truck. The hosts mention it as a vehicle that people might tow with, implying they’re curious whether towing performance and ride behavior are as bad as they’ve experienced with other trucks.

The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck known for its versatility, towing capability, and wide range of configurations. The podcast mentions towing with a Raptor being “bad” because it was “so soft,” which points to ride/handling comfort under tow. It’s discussed because the F-150 family is often evaluated based on how it behaves when working, not just driving empty.

“Raptor” refers to the Ford F-150 Raptor, a performance-oriented off-road pickup. Here it’s used as an example of a truck that felt “soft” while towing, leading to uncomfortable ride behavior and noticeable suspension squat.

Squat is the rear suspension compressing and the vehicle lowering at the back under load, such as when towing a heavy trailer. Excess squat can make the ride feel unstable or uncomfortable and can affect vehicle geometry and handling.

The Dodge Durango RT is a performance-oriented trim of the Durango SUV, aimed at stronger acceleration and a sportier setup than the base models. In this segment, it’s discussed as a potential tow vehicle, especially when equipped with self-leveling suspension.

The Porsche Macan GTS is a performance trim of Porsche’s Macan compact SUV, positioned between the standard models and the top performance variants. Here it’s specifically discussed as being set up with a tow package and used to tow a race car without major issues.

Air suspension uses air springs (instead of steel coils) to adjust ride height and sometimes stiffness. When towing, it can help maintain a level stance and improve ride quality over uneven roads.

The Chevrolet Colorado is a midsize pickup truck, often chosen for towing thanks to its truck-based chassis and available towing hardware. In this segment, the speaker contrasts it with the earlier towing setup, saying the Colorado “sucks” for towing despite having strong advertised power figures.

The Ford Ranger Raptor is a performance-focused midsize pickup tuned for off-road use. Here, it’s being compared to the Durango Hellcat, with the host claiming the Ranger Raptor feels less responsive because the engine isn’t always working as hard.

Extraneous radar means radar signals that aren’t coming from the source you care about (like a nearby speed camera). They can cause false alerts because the radar detector interprets them as relevant.

Valentine is a brand of radar/laser detection devices commonly used to alert drivers to speed-enforcement signals. The host says their Valentine unit was constantly alerting, implying it was reacting to non-threatening radar.

KA refers to a radar frequency band (commonly “K-band” and “Ka-band” are used in speed enforcement). The host is speculating that highway sensors might be using Ka-band radar, and that it’s become cheap enough to deploy widely.

“KA” refers to a specific radar frequency band used by some police radar guns. Radar detectors are tuned to detect those frequencies, so “KA radar detectors” means detectors that listen for that band specifically.

PSI is tire pressure measured in pounds per square inch. Adjusting PSI can change tire wear and how the tires handle heat and load during track driving.

A “carousel” is a specific type of track corner sequence—often a set of sweeping turns—where tires can be loaded for long periods. The speaker says it’s especially hard on tires, implying sustained lateral grip and heat buildup.

Lap times are how long it takes a car to complete one circuit of a track. When tires degrade, lap times usually get slower because grip drops and the driver has to brake earlier or go slower through corners.