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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 Walked By a Bright Pink Tesla Cybertruck, and I Just Realized, It’s an Undercover Cop Car 0
My 2024 Toyota RAV4 Is Holding Me Ransom. Toyota’s Drive Connect Was Free, Now They Want Me to Pay for It? 39
Fired Tesla Exec Says, “I Was With Elon Nearly Every Single Day During Model 3 Hell” Inside the Cutthroat World of Elon Musk's Tesla 0
My 2021 Tesla Model 3 Door Won't Open, Tesla Tried To Open Remotely, Says, It’s Offline, the Tow Truck Driver Said, It’s the 6th Tesla With the Same Issue 2
I Bought a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss in March, and This Thing Is a Piece of Work. I’ve Never Had This Many Problems With a Truck in Such a Short Time 98
GEICO Claims My Husband Hit a Car in My Hyundai Santa Fe in NY, But We Sold It 6 Months Ago for Parts, and We Live in Ohio - Is It Insurance Fraud? 1
I Think My 2024 Toyota RAV4 Is a Lemon, With Only 12K Miles It Has Too Many Problems, I Bought a Toyota Because It’s Supposed To Be Reliable 19
Honda Just Told Me It’s Going To Be $4,300 To Replace My 2022 Honda CR-V Radar, I Would Rather Trade It Off Than Pay That 19
I Tried To Test Drive A Tesla Cybertruck Over the Weekend, and the Dealer Says All 48-Hour Test Drives Are Stopped Because People Are Abusing the Program 0
The Toyota Dealer Forgot To Install My 2024 Tundra’s Oil Cap After An Oil Change, Now, I’m 750 Miles From Home, and My Engine Seized Up 5
2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Safety Recall Alert, Your Child’s Seat Could Come Loose In the Event of an Accident Causing Serious Injury To Your Baby 0
My 2025 Toyota Tacoma Improved 5 MPG, But, I Had to Install a $1,400 Exhaust, a $400 Air Intake, and I Have To Run 93 Octane Gas To Get It 19
My Wife Was Driving Our Tesla Model Y and It Unexpectedly Lost Power, and Stopped In the Middle of the Freeway During Rush Hour, Then Panic Set In 1
I Haven’t Even Had My $40K 2025 Ford F-150 Ten Days, and I Already Have a Serious Issue, a Defect That Has Me Shaking My Head 2
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Shouldn’t Have To Do This To My Cybertruck, My $3,500 Cyber Wheels Look Great, But They Constantly Get Misaligned” 2
2022 Toyota RAV4 Owner Says, “One Week After I Drove It Off the Lot it Died, The Dealer Can’t Find Anything Wrong, and It’s Happened 5 More Times 1
Performance Shop Says, “All the Cars In My Shop Are Subaru WRX and STIs With Serious Rod Knock Problems, These Engines Are Blown” 1
I Just Bought My First Tesla Cybertruck, and Now, I Was Welcomed Into the Upside Down Financial Club 8
I Was In a Serious Accident in My 2023 Toyota Highlander, and the Airbags Didn’t Deploy. Now I Have Nerve Damage and Other Health Issues 2
My Toyota RAV4 Was Stolen From the Dealer’s Service Area, Not Once But Twice, I Never Received an Explanation or an Apology From the Dealer 0
I Bought a 2023 Nissan Kicks, and the Dealer Sold Me a $500 Payment, Now I Found Out I Could Have Saved $143, I’ll Never Get a Dealer Loan Again 0
I Blew My Grandpa’s Mind When I Showed Him My Tesla Model 3’s FSD, He Said, “This is Unreal, This Is Crazy Steven” 2
My 2020 Ram Bighorn 1500 Has Been to the Dealer So Many Times I Can’t Remember. They Still Haven’t Fixed the Problem, I’m Done With this Truck 1
I Was Scammed On Facebook Marketplace. I Paid Cash For a 2022 GMC Sierra and Found It Had a Fake VIN, Now I’m out $27K, and the Truck 0
Mercedes-Benz Dealer Says, “We Screwed Up” After Loading $350K AMG G 63 On Wrong Transport Truck, Never To Be Seen Again 3