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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
2024 Honda CR-V Owner Says, “Every Time I Call the Dealer to Schedule My CR-V Recall, They Give Me the Same Response, They Don't Have the Parts Available” 1
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Twice In the Last Week FSD Has Taken Me Straight Across a Double Yellow Into Oncoming Traffic” 13
My 2021 Hyundai Palisade Needs A New Engine and Hyundai Says They Won’t Cover It Because I Was 2,000 Miles Over For an Oil Change 106
2025 Toyota Tundra Owner Says, “I’ve Already Had Backup Camera and Seat Reset Problems, and the Camera is Not Engaging at Stop Lights, But We Still Love Our Truck 5
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “The Massive Negativity Against Tesla Is Actually Fueling More Curiosity and Exposure, and Working In the Cybertruck’s Favor" 47
Ford Boss Speaks Out About the F-150 Lightning, “Ford Keeps Trying to Reinvent the Wheel For Something That’s Been Very Successful For Many, Many Years” 9
I Bought My 2022 GMC Yukon Denali New, and 31K Miles In It’s At the Dealer Waiting For a New Engine, Thank Goodness For a Warranty 31
I Walked Into the Toyota Service Department and Was Shocked, It Was Toyota Tundra Engine Replacement Day 14
I Traded My 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid For a 2025 CR-V Sport Hybrid, Now I’m Not Sure It Was a Good Idea 20
Tesla Model Y Owner Warning, “I Pushed the Trunk Close Button, and Then I Saw My Daughter’s Hand, I Had To Force It Open To Keep It From Crushing Her” 2
I Just Bought a 2025 Toyota RAV4, and It Has the Most Useless Compartment On the Console I’ve Ever Seen, Toyota Is It For McDonalds Dipping Sauces? 22
My 2024 GMC Sierra’s Transmission Died at 6,500 Miles, I’ve Been Waiting For the Dealer To Get Parts For Over 60 Days 77
So, My HOA Slapped Me With a Fine For Parking My Custom Mercedes/Toyota Tacoma Lowrider In My Driveway, I’m Not Sure Why They Say It’s Inoperable 0
The Cops Keep Asking Me If They Can Use My Tesla Model 3’s Sentry Mode, No One Told Me I’d Be Working Part Time For The Police Department 0
My Husband’s Dream Is a Subaru WRX STI, But He Got Me a Crosstrek, But Unfortunately My Dream Car Was Totaled When A RAM 1500 Ran a Red Light 13
“I Got Pulled Over In My Tesla Cybertruck For No Reason, the Cop Says This is the First Cybertruck I've Pulled Over" 0
2024 Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, “My JBL Speaker Won’t Work At All Now, the First Time It Only Lasted 40 Minutes and Over-Heated 2
I Took My Cybertruck To the Tesla Collision Center After Someone Hit Me, and My Truck Has Already Been There 6 Weeks, Is This a Normal Turnaround Time? 7
My 2024 Chevy Silverado 11K Miles In Wouldn’t Shift Into Forward or Reverse, Now I Need a New Transmission, But the Dealer Won’t Have Parts For 3 Months Minimum 63
My Wife Drove My Toyota Tacoma With 37K Miles and Accidentally Filled It Up With Diesel and It Wouldn’t Start, The Toyota Tech Saved My Truck and My Marriage 5
I Took My Tesla Cybertruck to a Car Show in Orange Beach and Braced Myself For Negativity, But I Was Shocked At the Response 0
So, I Just Bought a 2025 Toyota Tundra TRD PRO Hybrid, Headed Out to Maryland, Made it 400 Miles and the Engine Locked Up With Only 1,528 On My Truck 25
Model 3 Owner Responds to New Data Showing Tesla Drivers Are the Worst, “Some Tesla Drivers Like to Speed and Weave Between Lanes, But Many of Us Drive Like Responsible Adults” 10
Luxury Car Dealer Says, “My Own Employee Scammed Me Out of $80,000, He Sold a 2024 Ford F-150 Shelby For $20K Less Than What I Paid Before I Caught Him” 4
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “With All the Negativity, I Was Annoyed When a Man Started Taking Pictures Of My Cybertruck, But As I Watched Him, Admiration Replaced Irritation" 0