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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 Purchased a 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 in December, and I’m Already Asking GM For a Buy Back, Because of Unreliability, and I Feel Unsafe Driving This Truck 54
I Decided To Get PPF Protection For My Tesla Model Y’s Paint, Some Say It’s A Waste of Money, But I Think It Looks Exceptional 0
I’m Keeping My Tesla Model S For Now, But I Just Got This Lucid Air, Let's See How This Experiment Goes 1
One Year and 15K Miles In, My 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE Is a Keeper, It’s Better Than the Prius Wagon It Replaced 1
My Honda Dealer Is Saying I Need A Brake Fluid Change In My 2023 CR-V, and By the Looks Of It, It’s Not Even Dirty, Is This Another Dealer Scam? 21
2024 Tundra Owner Says, “Toyota Should Be Scared Someone Will Sue For an Accident Due to Them Knowing the 2022-2025 Have a High Chance of Motor Failure” 0
So, This 3 or 4 Year Old Kid Jumps Up and Down Pointing to My Cybertruck Yelling “Derz a Cybatukk! It’s Da Coolest Veeikel Eva!" I Wish I Had That Kid on Video 0
RAV4 Owner Says, “I’ve Had 2 Toyota Dealers and an Independent Toyota Shop Change the Oil in My 2021 RAV4 and 3 Times Now They’ve Overfilled It" 0
I Went Into the Dealer Looking For a 2024 Honda CR-V Gas Model, and I Left With a 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport 1
Chevy Silverado Owner Says, “I See All the Negative About the GM 6.2L V8, Well, I’ve Had No Problems With My 2022, 43K In, It Passed the Recall Test With No Issues 39
I Love My 2025 Toyota RAV4, But It Took $600 In Mods To Make It Stand Out From All the Other Boring RAVs On the Road 0
Tesla Model Y Owner Says, “It Feels Good to Finally Get My First EV. I Had a Scat Pack, the Performance Difference is Night and Day, I’m in Awe Every Time I Drive It" 0
I Just Picked Up the First EV of My Life Today. I Bought the Max Range GMC Sierra Denali, But Now I’m Feeling a Bit Of Anxiety Never Owning an EV Before 17
Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, “It Never Fails, Every Time I Go to the Dealer For Maintenance They Scratch My New Wheels With No Consideration For My Truck 120
My Honda CR-V’s Brakes Suddenly Slammed On, and the Car Wouldn’t Move, Everyone Told Me To Get A Honda, Because They’re Great Cars, I Totally Disagree 0
I Just Got a 2021 Tesla Plaid S With 40K Miles, At First It Felt Like It Was Going To Rip My Face Off, Now It Has the Same Power as My Wife's Model 3 P 0
I Was Loaned a 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid On a Trip From VA to FL, I Was So Impressed with the 41 MPG That I’m Selling My Subaru Outback 2
2024 Ram 2500 Buyer Pays $1,898 a Month For His New Truck, Financial Guru Says, “That's Not a Car Payment, That's a Mortgage On Wheels” 0
I Said Goodbye to This Rig Today, The 2024 Chevy Silverado Checked Every Box Except Reliability, Don’t Laugh, But I Went With a Honda Ridgeline 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Who Put A Kia Emblem on His Truck Has Hilarious Encounters Says, “I Get So, Many People Asking Me If This Is Really a Kia, I Say Yup!” 0
Tesla Did Me Dirty, I Took My 2018 Model 3 In For Warranty Work, and They Gave Me a Model X Loaner, Now I Want One 5
Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Owner Says, “Let Me Just Save You the Headache I’m Going Through Right Now, Don’t Buy a Tacoma Long Bed” 18
I Love Almost Everything About My 2024 Toyota RAV4, But I Can’t Get Used to This Digital Mirror, Am I Stuck With This Unusable Technology? 0
I Love My 2025 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss, But I’m Already Having Display Issues, I Can’t Believe Chevy Has Known About This Problem Since 2020, and Hasn’t Fixed It 0
I Just Found A Unicorn 2025 Toyota Tacoma 6-Speed Manual, I’ve Been Doing a Nationwide Search For Months, and As Soon As I Find One Someone Beat Me To It 2