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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
Honda Ignored Me When I Asked Why My 2016 CR-V Is Totaled From a Needless and Unwarranted Airbag Deployment, It Sent Me Into a Financial Tailspin 0
I Love My 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport, But the Turning Radius On These Things is Horrible, I’m Told I Need a Drone Recon Pass To Scope My Exit Plan 0
Ford Dealer Says, "If You Ever Need To Replace Your Ford Mustang or F-150 Lightning EV Battery Pack, Get Ready To Take a $25K to $40K Hit" 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Sadly, My New Cybertruck is Slowly Turning Out To Be a Lemon, 50 Days In Service, and Tesla Still Can’t Fix the Problem” 1
My Chevy Loyalty Is Being Tested, I Have a 2023 Chevy Tahoe With a Failed Transmission, and Now Our 2024 Silverado Is Recalled For Engine Failure 0
My 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s First Alert Came on at 5K, the Dealer Refused to Change My Oil, and Only Rotated My Tires, They Told Me to Come Back At 10K 3
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, "I Don’t Just Drive, I Deploy, Because This Isn’t Just a Truck, It’s a Statement, I’m Not Here To Fit In, I’m Here To Disrupt" 3
And So It Begins, I Picked up My 2025 Toyota Tacoma Yesterday, It Has 30 Miles On It, and It’s About to Be Torn Apart 32
I’m Done With My Chevy Silverado RST Rocky Ridge, 15K In, and I’m Putting In My 3rd Motor, I Just Picked Up This Bad Boy, a 2024 GMC Denali 3500 Ultimate 28
I Just Picked Up My Cybertruck, and Had to Immediately Take It to Service, I Got a "Brakes Too Hot - Performance Reduced" Warning After Descending Mt. Baldy 1
I Took My GMC Sierra In For An Oil Change, Asked the Dealer To Switch to 5W-30 Instead of 0W-20, I Had to Sign a Document Confirming My Request Or They Wouldn’t Do It 0
I Just Traded My 2020 Ford F-150 for a 2025 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss, But Now, I Hope I Made the Right Choice 41
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Tesla, You Need to Offer Free Charging, Autopilot, and Wheels To Loyal Customers, Please Don’t Forget Who Brought You to the Dance” 0
I Wanted a Tesla Cybertruck Until I Got This Rivian R1S Loaner, It Has No Elon Shenanigans, Fits My Garage, 410 Mile Range, And Doesn’t Nag on the Freeway 0
Ford F-150 Owner Who Ran Down Church Shooter with His Truck Says, "While I Talked with 911, I Realized There Was No Time, It Just Kind of Happened” 0
I Don’t Care What Anyone Says, Aggressive Drivers Target My Tesla Model 3, I Never Had Anyone Come At Me In My Toyota RAV4 2
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “15 days, and an Amazing 6,200 Mile Trip to the Arctic Circle, I Camped at a Mountain Summit, and Stayed in Front of a Glacier” 2
Chevy Silverado Owner Says, “Am I Disgruntled? Yes, I Am. Wouldn’t You Be If You Paid $50K for a Truck That’s Been in the Shop 5 Times Before it Hit 40K? 93
2025 Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, “My Favorite Part of the new Tacoma? It's Not the Truck! It’s a New Key Fob” 10
5-0 Pulled My 2025 Tesla Cybertruck Over For Not Having Tags, I Told Him They Are Not Required In Texas, He Checked With Higher Ups and Let Me Off the Hook 4
My 2022 Chevy Silverado Z71 10-Speed Trans Is Gone 33K In, It Already Has a New Rear Diff, and the Dealer Says At Least 5 Trucks Are Ahead of Me 12
I’m Leaning Towards Buying a 2016 Toyota Tundra with 96K Miles Over a Newer 2022 Tundra with 45K Miles, Because the Older Truck Has More Life Left In It 21
My Tesla Model 3 Passed a Slower Car, Pulled In Front of It, and Slowed Down, the Car Passed Me and Gives Me the Finger, Now, I’m Ready to Cancel FSD 0
My Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the Worst I’ve Owned For Road Noise, and It Lacks Power. My New Ford F-150 Lightning is 500% Quieter, and It’s Crazy Fast 1
My 2025 Toyota RAV4 200 Miles In Smells Like Coolant, the Dealer Confirmed It Was There, Had to Call Tech Support, and Now They Say It’s Normal 16