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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
Here’s Another Reason Why I Like My Tesla Cybertruck, I Just Got A $4,000 Service Bill From the Dealer On My Ram 2500 Diesel 21
So, While Camping In My 2024 Subaru Outback In the Middle of Nowhere, I Left My Tailgate Open, and 2 Hours Later My Battery Is Dead  8
I Parked My 2024 Toyota Tacoma for a Week and Now the Battery Is Dead, It Only Has 5K Miles, Now I’m Afraid To Drive It 6
I Thought It Was the End of the World, But the Weird Sound Was Just A Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV Parking Next To Me 1
My Tesla Cybertruck Just Drove Itself Back To the Dealer Because of the Heavy Debt I Owe, Come Back Cybertruck 39
“My 2023 Chevy Suburban Decelerated From 80 MPH Down To 60 Without Warning While I’m in the Fast Lane, and I Thought I Was Going To Wreck” 1
I Can’t Believe That the Hyundai Palisade I Rented From Turo Was Repossessed, and It Happened While I’m Sitting At a Restaurant With My Son 7
2023 Toyota Tundra Owner Says, “While Driving On the Freeway, I Suddenly and Without Warning Get a Low Oil Pressure Alert and the Engine Shuts Down. It Was a Terrifying Experience" 14
I Walked Into a Mercedes and BMW Dealer, Waited 45 Minutes and No One Helped Me, I Own an AMG C63 and a 540i, So, Luxury Dealers, Count Your Days 209
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Tesla Rolled Out Free Trials of FSD, But Instead of Excitement, the Reaction Is Mixed Because Of What Didn’t Arrive” 0
I Got a Great Deal On a Lexus GX 460, Now Lexus Tells Me There’s a Valley Plate Leak That’s Going To Cost $3,000 Or More 15
I’ve Had The Least Success With My 2024 Chevy Tahoe, My Sporty Tahoe Left Me Stranded and Almost Killed My Entire Family 6
I Think Toyota Hates Android, My 2019 RAV4 Is Only iPhone Compatible, and Not Android, I’m Very Disappointed I Even Bought the Vehicle and I’m Selling It 2
My Expensive BMW X1 SUV Is Collecting Dust In My Driveway Because I Can’t Drive It, and The Dealer Refuses To Give Me a Title 8
I Bought A Tesla Model 3 and My Wife Isn’t Happy, the Dealer Will Take It Back, But It Will Cost Me An Arm And a Leg To Get Out Of It 8
I Heard A Knocking Sound From My 2022 Honda Pilot. It Only Has 87K Miles, But Now, My Honda Tech Says I Need a New Engine On This One 19
My Toyota RAV4 Has Been Tracking My Driving Habits For Years Without Me Knowing and Without My Consent. Toyota and Progressive Insurance Knew About It 2
I Just Wasted $50K On a 2025 Honda Civic, My 2005 Honda CR-V Had More Features Than This New Model 12
My Hyundai Elantra Lane Assist Slammed Me Into a Wall Going 80 MPH, I Thought It Was Supposed To Protect Me, I Want My Toyota Corolla Back 15
I Haven’t Changed the Oil In My Nissan Altima in 23,000 Miles, I Just Found Out Today That I Need An Oil Change Every 5,000 Miles 3
I’m Stuck With a $31K Chevy Silverado Yard Ornament, the Dealer Failed To Give Me a Title, Now, 5 Months In They Sold the Store and Closed the Doors 50
I Just Bought a Used Cybertruck, Live 3 Hours Away, and Now My Tesla App Says Drop It Off and Pick It Up Next Week!? Are They Giving Me a Loaner? 2
My 2024 Chevy Silverado Is Rusting Through the Frame After 16K Miles, My Ram With 100K Was Nowhere Near This Bad 43
Price Is Right Car Winner Says, “I Didn’t Want the Nissan Versa, So I Traded It For A Toyota RAV4, But Now My 'Free' Car Comes With A $400 a Month Payment” 170
I Just Received 3 Recalls For My 2024 Toyota Corolla, I Have 2 Questions, Is Toyota Doing Ok, and Is My Corolla Even Going To Make It To Repair? 5