In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show Oct 28, 2025

Speed, Size, and Hellcats

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Car

Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is a powerful version of the Durango SUV. It has a strong engine that makes it faster and more fun to drive than regular SUVs.

Term

all-wheel drive

All-wheel drive means that all four wheels of the car get power from the engine. This helps the car grip the road better, especially in rain or snow.

Concept

trim levels

Trim levels are different versions of the same car model. Each version can have different features, like better technology or more powerful engines.

Term

captain's chairs

Captain's chairs are special seats in the middle of a car that are separate from each other, making it easier for people to get in and out.

Term

LED daytime running lamps

LED daytime running lamps are bright lights on cars that help others see them better during the day.

Term

power liftgate

A power liftgate is a back door on an SUV that opens automatically when you press a button, making it easier to put things inside.

Part

Brimbo brakes

Brembo brakes are special brakes that help cars stop quickly and safely, especially in high-performance vehicles.

Car

Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is a fast car that was made for performance. It has a strong engine and many features that make it enjoyable to drive.

Term

torque

Torque is a measure of how much pulling power an engine has. It helps a car start moving quickly and can also help it pull heavy things.

Part

6.2 liter V8

The 6.2 liter V8 is a type of engine that is very powerful and helps the car go really fast. It's used in some of the fastest cars on the road.

Term

horsepower

Horsepower is a way to measure how strong an engine is. The more horsepower a car has, the faster it can go.

Term

EPA

The EPA is a government group that helps keep the environment safe. They also tell us how much gas cars use, which helps people choose more efficient vehicles.

Car

Dodge Hellcat

The Dodge Hellcat is a fast car made by Dodge, famous for its very powerful engine that makes it go really fast in a short amount of time. It's a popular choice for people who love speed and performance.

Term

zero to 60

'Zero to 60' is a way to see how fast a car can go from a complete stop to 60 miles per hour. It's often used to show how powerful and quick a car is.

Term

competition suspension

A competition suspension is a special setup for a car that helps it handle better when driving fast or on a racetrack. It makes the ride feel firmer and helps the car stay steady during turns.

Term

MSRP

MSRP is the price that the car maker suggests the car should be sold for. It's like a starting point for how much you might pay for a new car.

Car

Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is a big, fancy SUV that lots of people use for comfort and style. It's known for having a lot of space inside and fancy gadgets, making it a popular choice for families and those who want to ride in luxury.

Car

Dodge Challenger

The Dodge Challenger is a sporty car that looks like classic muscle cars from the past. The 2022 version comes in different types, some of which are designed to be very fast.

Term

SRT Hellcat

SRT Hellcat is a special name Dodge uses for its fastest cars. These cars have very powerful engines that make them much quicker than regular models.

Term

wheel opening extensions

Wheel opening extensions are parts of a car's body that are made bigger to fit larger wheels and tires. This helps the car grip the road better when driving.

Term

flat-nosed grille

A flat-nosed grille is a type of front grille on a car that looks flat and wide. It can help with how the car looks and how air flows to keep the engine cool.

Term

rear spoiler

A rear spoiler is a part on the back of a car that helps it stay on the ground when driving fast. It helps the car grip the road better.

Term

front splitter

A front splitter is a piece added to the front of a car that helps it stay on the ground when going fast. It helps the car handle better by controlling how air moves around it.

Term

SRT steering wheel

The SRT steering wheel is a special steering wheel used in high-performance cars. It's thicker and designed to help drivers control the car better when driving fast.

Term

supercharged V8

A supercharged V8 is a type of engine that has a device called a supercharger. This device helps the engine produce more power by pushing in extra air, which lets it burn more fuel and go faster.

Term

eight speed automatic transmission

An eight-speed automatic transmission is a type of car gearbox that automatically changes gears for you. It has eight different settings to help the car drive smoothly and save fuel.

Term

traction control

Traction control helps your car maintain grip on the road when you accelerate. It stops the wheels from spinning too much, which can happen if you're going fast or on slippery surfaces.

Term

burnout

A burnout is when a car's wheels spin really fast while the car stays in one place, making smoke from the tires. It's often done to prepare the tires for racing.

Car

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is a popular sports car that many people love for its speed and cool looks. It's been around for a long time and is often talked about because it represents fun driving and freedom on the road.

Car

Ford Mustang Mach 1

The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is a special version of the Mustang that is designed to be faster and more fun to drive. It has a powerful engine and sporty features.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a fast version of the Camaro car. It has a powerful engine and is built for racing and performance driving.

Term

spinning the rear tires

When the back tires of a car spin too fast without gripping the road, it means the car might slide or lose control. This usually happens when the car is going too fast or accelerating too hard.

LIVE

All right, time now for the car review.

Now Mr. Mars had the chance to drive, don't be smiling at me when I give this introduction,

had the chance to drive the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat.

And that's all I'm going to say because I know that you'll rub it in even more

now that you've had a chance to drive it. So we're talking about the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat

premium all-wheel drive. Now I'm going to explain that to you. Okay, please do. Now the Dodge Durango,

you can actually, if you count the different editions that they have listed on their website,

you can actually get 18 different trim levels or whatever you want to call it of the Durango.

However, we're going to just talk about the three Hellcat editions. You can get the SRT Hellcat,

the SRT Hellcat Plus, the SRT Hellcat premium, which is the one that we had. This is a full-size

SUV three-row. We had the six-passenger version because we had the captain's chairs in the

second row. One of my granddaughters, I was taking her someplace in it. She said,

this is a family car? Yes, this is a family car when you get everything in it that you really want

and has a distinctive SRT badging. Ours had the dual racing stripes on it, the SRT performance hood,

had projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, all that good stuff you're going to find out there.

SRT red brimbo brakes had power sunroof, power liftgate, 20 by 10 inch wheels. Yes, yes, yes, yes,

now you go to the inside of it and this is where you're really going to see that could be a family

vehicle. Laguna leather seating, got the high performance bucket seats up front. They're heated,

ventilated. The second row has also bucket seats that are heated and it has a console in that second

row, so it's very comfortable for the rear passengers. Up front, you're also going to find

out you've got a 200 mile per hour speedometer and you're also got a 10.1 inch touchscreen where

the Uconnect system is. You can find your SRT performance pages there. It's got wireless

charging on it. It's got the Harman Kardon audio with 19 speakers with subwoofer and 825 watt amp.

So there's power in this vehicle on everything. Now, the Hellcat was first introduced in 2021.

It was really only supposed to be a one model year production, but it keeps going because people love

this vehicle. It does weigh 5,500 pounds, so it is a larger vehicle and it's heavy in the all-wheel

drive configuration. Now under the hood, you're going to find the 6.2 liter V8 710 horsepower SRT

Hellcat engine, 645 pound feet of torque, 8 speed automatic. Now you can properly equip this vehicle

and I don't know that I would do it with a Hellcat motor, but 8,700 pounds of derango is capable of

towing. Now the EPA says you should be able to look for 12 miles per gallon in the city,

17 on the highway and combine 13. Now for the two tanks of fuel that I drove this vehicle during the

week I had is across 238.3 miles. I got what? I did not drive it over here this week. Why is that?

Because it sucked down too much gas? No, because we were at the Autorama. It came in with the

truck full of all our stuff in it. I heard my feelings to leave it sitting in the driveway for

a couple of days. I'll bet it did. Well you could have transferred it from the truck to the back of

the Hellcat. I was afraid it wouldn't hold it all, but we have a lot of stuff. But anyway,

zero to 60 in less than five seconds according to Dodge. It does have a competition suspension on it

and so you're going to have a firm highway ride. Does it come with that? Yes, it comes with that.

Yeah, when you get that engine combination package with all-wheel drive, that's what you're

going to get. But it's not that rough that you're going down the highway at a rate. No, it weighs

almost three tons. Exactly. And when you've got the engine that you can hear, I mean, my wife went

to sleep. We were cruising and she just, yes, exactly. She thought it was great for that. And I

said, great, I'm going to get one. But she didn't like that idea too good. Anyway, so if you're

looking at a Dodge Durango, you can get into this vehicle for $40,645. But we're talking

about the Hellcat. So a base trim price on a Hellcat is $91,740. Now, you can get the Hellcat

for $93,335 on the Hellcat plus for $99,935. Or you can get, as tested, the MSRP on the

Durango SRT Hellcat premium all-wheel drive for $106,420. Now, I went out and I looked to see what

you could compare this to. Now, there's a lot of full-size SUVs out there. Yeah. There's some of

them that have all-wheel drive. Yeah. But none of them have 700 plus horsepower. So I just didn't

even bother. Well, it would be the Escalade V. I'd have enough trouble staying to keep

gas in this one. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. But anyway, it's a very impressive vehicle. It's

really heavy. And that's my review of the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. It's not a smile. It's

a smirk. Oh, I love it. All right. Hey, the in-wheel time car talk show is available 24-7

through the iHeart radio app. Just look for in-wheel time car talk. We also

2022 Dodge Challenger available trim levels, the SXT, the GT, the RT, the RT scat pack,

and the SRT Hellcat. Not only did I have the Hellcat, but I had the Hellcat wide body.

How many passengers? Four or five? If you want to stick the third person in the back seat back

there. Is there even a seat belt back there for that? I don't think so. Someone in the middle?

That's four people. Anyway, exterior changes from last model year. None. This car was originally

introduced in 2008, which was 15 years ago if you're counting. And if you stop and think about it,

what car is still around that's 15 years old that they sell everyone that they make? It's truly

amazing. Exterior features. Wheel opening extensions allow for wider, bigger wheels

and tires, and that's really what it's all about, trying to get the power to the road.

Flat-nosed grille is direct descendant of the original back in the 60s.

She-jack air nostrils on the hood. No, no. Well, they could be, yes. They could be wide body.

Yeah, you're going to sneeze. Front splitter and rear spoiler said that. What I liked,

the retro styling that never gets old in my book. What could use improvement? Nothing.

I like the way it is and I like the way it looks and they're not going to change it and I wouldn't

recommend they change it. That's what sells the car. Interior highlights, thick SRT steering wheel,

well laid out dash that is getting a little dated, but it still works. Great infotainment system.

That Chrysler system just really works for me. Comfortable, high bolstered seating. Cargo

trunk room is relatively small for a mid-sized car like this. What I liked about it, the race car

styling on the interior. What could use improvement? Nothing. Waiting on the electric replacement and

I can't wait. If they, they do, they do such a good job at hot rotting. I can only imagine

where the electric is going to go. 6.2 liter, supercharged V8, 717 posted horsepower, torque of

656 pound feet. Transmission, eight speed automatic transmission. It's rated for 13 miles per gallon

in the city and 21 on the highway for a combined total of 15, 17.3. Well, I mean, I'm sorry. I

know that the car will smoke the rear tires. I know that. Why would I want to do that? I don't want

to do that. Yeah, I know. Well, and it's not my car. Now, Mars on the other hand. I was thinking

if you just see and hear his comment, he says, exactly. So in other words, that's what you do.

Kimberly Schultz, I just wanted to go ahead and call him out on this. You've lit those tires up,

haven't you? In the name of research? Yes. I mean, you've got to figure out just to what extent.

Guys that do it on YouTube and stuff, whenever you're the Stalantas and the Dodge engineers,

they all know exactly how to do that. So they can, they can do these funny cars.

We all know how to do it. You take the traction control off and you put it in low or shift it

through the gears and just keep burning the tires all the way down the track. No, no, no, no.

Okay. Well, then how do you do it? We're going to have to give you lessons on how to do a proper

burnout next time we get a car. Yes. Okay. I don't want, I'll watch from the curb

a long way back because all I can see is that car going down the road. We're not talking about

a Mustang. Ryan and handling what I liked about it. The race car like suspension. What could

use improvement? Adjustability, but then it wouldn't be a race car suspension on it. Would it? I have

a comment after all this, but that's okay. I'll wait. Okay. Now then, let us talk about pricing.

Now the base trim price on the Hellcat, the base trim price is $63,530. The price is tested was $88,000,

but if you want to get into a Challenger, a six cylinder like my daughter's got,

$30,000. Yeah, that's good. It's like what, 305, 308 horsepower? I mean there's plenty of

plenty. Yeah. Competitors to this vehicle. Well, duh. The Mustang Mach 1, it starts at $57,665.

The Camaro ZL1 starts at $65,895, which I think would probably be the closest competitor,

but not really as far as horsepower is concerned. And then there is the Charger four door because I

can't find any more two doors. Charger four door starts at $79,595 and that's the Hellcat version.

Okay. So you got 780 horsepower. You've got bolstered seats. You got wide body. You got big tires.

You got all these accoutrements on the dashboard to fix performance, but oh, don't you dare light

those tires up? Yeah, Don. Don't you dare. I didn't. I didn't light them up. It's there to light tires

up here. Here's my, here's my reason because if I did that, I'd either one get caught by the police

or get a big ticket or I'd wreck it. I'd put it into some, some light pole down the street or you

get caught by Dodge because that's my luck. I'm not going to do that. Why would I do that? The point

is they put all of that, all of that, Florida stuff that I Florida time or two. Absolutely.

It takes it just a split second to say, oh, spin, spinning the rear tires need to bring it back a

little bit or shift it up to the next gear. And then you shift it up the next gear and it still

wants to spin the tires. It's got, it's got more horsepower than most people could handle. That's

what I'm saying. That's kind of like, can't fix. No lie. And the car's not. We also video stream

on Facebook, YouTube and in wheel time.com podcasts at your fingertips on over a dozen

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About this episode

The review dives into the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, a powerful full-size SUV boasting a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 710 horsepower. The hosts discuss its impressive features, including luxurious interior options, advanced technology, and towing capabilities. Despite its hefty weight, the Hellcat delivers a thrilling driving experience, achieving 0-60 in under five seconds. The conversation also touches on pricing, with the Hellcat starting around $91,740, and compares it to other high-performance SUVs, highlighting its unique position in the market.

6.2 liter V8 all wheel drive Brimbo brakes burnouts captain's chairs competition suspension eight-speed automatic transmission EPA flat-nosed grille front splitter

Cadillac Escalade Chevrolet Camaro Dodge Challenger Dodge Charger Dodge Durango Ford Mustang

Original notes

With Dodge thinking real hard about bringing the Hellcat, we take a look at two of our favorites.

A three-row family hauler with 710 horsepower sounds like a punchline, but the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Premium makes a strong case for everyday insanity. We dive into the details that matter: the captain’s chairs that make carpool easy, the Laguna leather and heated second row that keep everyone happy, and the SRT Performance Pages that tempt you to explore every drive mode. From red Brembo brakes and 20 by 10 wheels to the 10.1-inch Uconnect system and a thundering Harman Kardon setup, the Durango blends comfort, tech, and raw force in a way few SUVs can touch.

Then we talk numbers and nuance. A 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 710 hp and 645 lb-ft moving 5,500 pounds to 60 in under five seconds feels unhinged, yet the competition suspension and AWD deliver a firm, stable ride on the highway. Towing up to 8,700 pounds, seeing real-world fuel economy in the teens, and confronting a six-figure sticker spark the bigger conversation: what are you really buying when you choose a Hellcat badge? We stack the Durango’s capability against the short list of rivals and find that very few full-size SUVs play in this power league.

To round out the picture, we jump into the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody and explore why a shape born in 2008 still sells out. Wide fenders, a flat-nose grille, and hood nostrils serve retro muscle with modern grip, while a thick SRT wheel, high-bolstered seats, and bulletproof Uconnect keep the cockpit focused. With 717 hp and 656 lb-ft on tap, the Challenger raises the eternal question: should you use all of it? We unpack the burnout myth, traction realities, daily drivability, and how the Hellcat compares with Mustang Mach 1, Camaro ZL1, and Charger Hellcat.

If you’re weighing a supercharged SUV that can tow the toys or a coupe that time-travels to the glory days, this conversation maps the trade-offs in power, price, and practicality. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves big horsepower, and leave a review to tell us whether you’d pick the Durango or the Challenger.

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