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Denis Flierl - Senior Reporter and specialized automotive journalist

Member for

14 years 2 months
Bio

Denis Flierl | Senior Reporter

Denis Flierl is a Senior Reporter at Torque News and a specialized automotive journalist with over three decades of industry expertise. Since 2012, Denis has been a mainstay of the Torque News editorial team, drawing on a deep background in high-level consulting for major global automotive brands. This unique "behind-the-scenes" experience allows him to provide readers with a wealth of insider knowledge that extends far beyond the standard spec sheet.

Based in Parker, Colorado, Denis is a prominent member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP). He utilizes the region's high-altitude terrain as a rigorous testing ground to provide "boots-on-the-ground" analysis for readers across North America. He specializes in breaking automotive news, exclusive owner perspectives, and technical deep-dives into vehicle reliability and maintenance.

Technical Specialization & Authority

  • Truck & 4WD Technology: With a focus on long-term reliability, he frequently reports on Toyota, GM, Ram, and Ford truck platforms, analyzing mechanical faults, drivetrain durability, and the transition to EV technology.
  • Data-Driven Reporting: Prioritizing a "Technical-First" structure, Denis anchors his reports in Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), official manufacturer recall data, and technical specifications to empower consumers with factual, actionable information.

Work Experience & Education

  • 2012–Present: Senior Reporter and regular contributor on Torque News, hundreds of automotive reviews on Automoblog, and a contributor to JC Whitney. 
  • Automotive Consultant: Over 13 years providing strategic, technical, and market consulting for major global car brands (Ford, GM, Ram, Toyota, Tesla).
  • Professional Test Driver: Years of hands-on vehicle evaluation, verifying real-world performance against engineering claims in Colorado's extreme high altitude environment.
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Technical Philosophy & Reporting Standards

In an era of automotive reporting often clouded by marketing hype, I adhere to a strict objective standard. My goal is to respect your time and intelligence by delivering neutral, reporting-style language. Whether I am investigating machining debris issues in a new V6 engine or detailing a Starlink software update, I prioritize technical descriptors such as "critical fault" or "thermal limit" over emotional narratives.

I see myself as a bridge between the factory's technical world and the driver's everyday world. My "education" in this industry was forged by three decades of collaborating with the engineers who build these machines and the technicians who keep them on the road.

Personal & Other Works 

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Outside of the automotive world, Denis is an accomplished writer and the author of the novel "Kingdom Runner," available on Amazon.

Connect with Denis

Visit DenisFlierl.com for technical deep-dives, vehicle testing archives, and full investigative reports.

Do you have a technical news tip, a specific DTC question, or an automotive query? Follow Denis for the latest data-backed insights:

About Torque News

Since 2010, Torque News has served as a dedicated, independent voice in the automotive world. For over 15 years, our team has focused on providing expert analysis and honest, "boots on the ground" vehicle reviews. Driven by a commitment to transparency and technical accuracy, we prioritize the reader’s needs over marketing hype to help you navigate a rapidly changing industry.

Article Published Comments
I Passed on the Expensive Warranty For a Used 2019 Ram, 7,000 Miles Later the Engine Blew, and Not Getting It Was a Huge Mistake 16
They Said I Was Crazy For Changing My Ford F-150’s Oil Every 10K Miles Since It Was New, But They Were Wrong, It Has 217K Miles, and Still Going Strong 7
The Toyota Dealer Tried To Sell Me a $174 Fuel Injection Service For My RAV4, Now, My Friend Says I Can Do It Myself For $15 With a Bottle of Royal Purple Max-Clean 12
I Traded My Wimpy Chevy Silverado 2WD 2.7L For a Muscled Up Trail Boss 3.0L, I’m Looking Forward to Having 4WD and 495 lb ft of Torque 3
My 2025 Tundra Out of Nowhere, BAM!, Like a Shotgun Blast, My Sunroof Exploded For No Reason, Toyota Says NO Warranty, a $2,800 Bill, and They Won’t Pay 1
I Just Traded My 2018 Honda CR-V For a 2026 CR-V Hybrid, But Now, People Say ‘Don’t Get a Hybrid, the Cost to Replace the Battery Isn’t Worth What I’ll Save In Gas’ 10
I Ditched My 2021 Ford F-150 For This Toyota Tundra, Now All My F-150 Repair Problems Are Fixed Forever, Goodbye, I’m Out (Now, How About That Tundra?) 6
My 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Has This Hidden Filter I Had No Idea About, I Was Grossed Out To See Its Current Condition, I Didn’t Even Know It Was a Thing 0
Toyota Tacoma Buyer Says, “I Can Get Cheese On a 2026 Taco But Not Tomatoes, Because Those Toppings Aren't Available In My Region, Well, Who Woulda Thought 18
2026 Ram Rebel Owner Says, “I Installed a K&N Filter, and One Test Drive It Threw an Engine Light, and Won't Go Past 15 MPH, It’s Crazy, All I Did Was Put the Filter On” 0
My 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 Broke So Often, I Made GM Buy It Back; I Hope This Stripped-Down 2025 Silverado 1500 I Just Bought Is More Reliable 4
First Try at FSD With My Cybertruck, V14 Was Good Until It Backed Up Into a Pole Denting My Bumper, But I’m Not Criticizing Tesla, Elon, or the CT, I Still Love My CT 1
I Took My ’25 Toyota Tundra For Its First Oil Change at 1,500 Miles, and the Dealer Tried Hard to Convince Me To Do Them At 10K, For an Engine Known To Have Problems Early On 66
A Ford F-150 Owner Fights a $1,500 Dealer Bill For Snapping Turbo Bolts: Says,“My Ford F-150 Warranty Repair Became a Nightmare” 1
Honda CR-V Buyer Says, "I Was Going to Get a Toyota RAV4, But I'm Trading My Genesis GV70 for a CR-V Hybrid Instead, (and I Might Not Lose My Shirt!)” 3
An F-150 Owner Won’t Buy Another Ford, Says, “I Have Serious Buyers Remorse One Year In, Between the Transmission and the Underpowered Oil Burning Engine, Now I Owe More Than It’s Worth” 123
I Got a Great Deal On This 2022 Chevy Silverado 2WD, and This Is the Only Off-Road It's Gonna See, Now I Hope I’m Not Sorry I Didn’t Go 4WD, I Live In Texas 0
A Tesla Model 3 Owner Gets Taken For An Unexpected Ride From the US to Canada (By Accident), Says, “I Wasn’t Paying Attention and FSD Took the Wrong Exit” 0
2024 Toyota Prius Owner Laments, “One of Life's Cruelties is That the New Prius Looks Genuinely Stunning, Yet They Fitted it With a Drivetrain Duller than American Chocolate” 1
2019 Chevy Silverado Owner Says, “Well I Won’t Have To Worry About Which Will Fail First, Transmission or Lifters, My Truck Failed Both, and the Estimate Was $8700 1
I Was Determined To Get a New Toyota RAV4, But After Driving the 2026 Honda CR-V, the RAV4 is Not as Smooth and Not as Quiet Like the CR-V 15
People Always Ask This Tesla Cybertruck Owner, ‘How Long Do the Batteries Last?’ He Says, “150K", and Adds, "I’ll Save $27K Over My Toyota Tundra in Gas, and Oil Changes Alone” 0
I Was Shocked When the Dealer Told Me $10K To Fix My Ram 1500 Limited’s Air Suspension, Lucky For Me I Got the Extended Warranty, $200 Out of Pocket, Where Do I Sign 1
100K Mile Tesla Cybertruck Owner Reveals In Interview, “I Don’t Use FSD Much, Mostly Because I Text While Driving, I Don’t Need Two Women Nagging Me At Once” 0
So, I Pre-Ordered a 2025 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road, and To Say This Whole Process Has Been One Big Frustrating Harang, Would Be An Understatement 0