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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
A Nissan Dealer Bait-and-Switched Me, Told Me a Car Online Was ‘Not Operational’, Then Pressured Me To Buy a More Expensive Car and a Loan I Couldn’t Afford 4
I Just Bought A 2025 Toyota RAV4 Right Before They Announced the All-New 2026 Model, I Made a Big Mistake, I Should Have Waited 5
Help, I Bought a 2025 Toyota Highlander, and I’m Having Bad Buyer’s Remorse, I Just Looked at a Nissan Pathfinder, I Should Have Bought It Instead 47
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “My CT Saved Me $5,226 In One Year, and It Outperforms My Ford F-250 Power Stroke, I’m Selling It and Buying Another Cybertruck” 1
I Replaced My First 2022 Chevy Tahoe Engine At 15K Miles, Now, 8 Days Later, the Replacement 6.2L Engine Blew Up Again With My Family In the Vehicle 3
Torque News Editor-in-Chief Says “Subaru’s Future Is Not EVs, It’s a Mysterious 194 HP Surprise, It’s the 2025 Forester Hybrid” 8
I Just Bought a 2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE, Put 1000 Miles On It, and I Already Want To Trade It In, This Car Is a Total Disappointment 141
Tesla Replaced My Cybertruck’s Door Because of a Severe Vibration, and Say They Scratched The Window Tint, But I Don’t Have Tinted Windows, This Is Bizarre 3
The Tesla Dealer Claims I Owe $2,200 on My 2022 Model S Lease Return for Wear and Tear Items That I Can Have Fixed for $50 0
I Was Quoted $500 By Honda To Fix My 2018 CR-V Sun Visor, I Fixed It Myself With a $50 Part From Amazon, Why Are Dealers Overcharging People? 2
The Ford Dealer Is Charging Me $1,300 To Fix A 2022 Explorer I Took On A Test Drive That I Don’t Even Own 129
I Finally Received My Tesla Cybertruck's Cant Rail Recall Notice, But Now They Don’t Have the Parts, Guess They’ll Replace Mine In 5 Years 1
My 2024 Toyota Tundra With 20K Miles and I Just Joined the Broken Radio Knob Club 0
No One Believes Me, But It’s True, I Parked My Tesla Model 3 In the Front Of the Restaurant, and When I Came Out, It Had Driven Itself To the Back 0
Confessions of a Tesla Cybertruck Owner, “This Is Hard To Say, But I Lost a Friend, a Really Good Friend Because I Own a Cybertruck” 1
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Sometimes I Forget My Cybertruck Will Drive Itself, But Not Today, I’m Sitting Back, Drinking Espresso and Driving To the Beach” 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, "I Had A Blast On the Trails Today, The Highlight? Pulling a Jeep Wrangler Out of a Mud Pond" 1
The Economy Must Be Bad, I Just Spotted a Tesla Model 3 With Solar Panels Strapped To It In California 0
I Had My Tesla Cybertruck on Cruise at 82 MPH and A GA State Patrol Gave Me a Ticket For Going 89 MPH, Says Anything Over 85 Is a ‘Super-Speeder’ Fine 458
The Honda Dealer Said It Will Cost $175 To Replace My 2006 Honda Civic Key Fob, So, To Be Clear, I Will Not Be Paying That 2
My 2023 Toyota Camry Has a Serious Leak and Mold Growing In the Trunk, Now the Dealer Says There Is Nothing They Can Do About It 1
I Just Bought a 2025 Ford F-250, I Waited For the Less Expensive Tesla Cybertruck, and When It Came Out, I Still Couldn’t Afford It 13
My 2023 Chevy Tahoe with 41K Miles Is a Ticking Time Bomb, It’s Been Towed to the Dealer Twice, and It Has a New Engine, But I’m Afraid To Drive It 0
There Are Things That I Don't Like About My 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road, But It’s Still Better Than the 4th Generation Tacoma Truck 5
Analyst Blasts Tesla Cybertruck Saying, “The Lust Has Faded For This Controversial Truck. Ford F-150 Lightning Sans the Showboating Styling and Questionable Quality of the CT” 3