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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
My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Pipes Fake Engine Noise Into the Cabin, I’m Disappointed That Toyota Did This and I Want To Turn It Off 8
Tesla Cyberbeast Owner Says, I’m Driving at 55 MPH Coming Back From a Ski Trip, When All Of a Sudden I Heard a Terrible Ripping Apart Sound Coming From the Top of My Truck 8
I Bought My 2024 Toyota Tundra Brand New and I’m 24,000 Miles In, I’ve Not Had One Ounce of Problems Other Than Bluetooth Tuning With My Radio 0
2021 Chevy Silverado Owner Says, “I Used To Get 20-24 MPG Highway, Now I’m Getting 13-16 MPG, I Replaced Spark Plugs, K&N Air Filter, and Changed Oil Every 5K, Any Ideas?” 5
Subaru Ascent Owner Says, “After Hitting a Deer, We Could Hear Fluids Dripping and Things Popping, I Kicked the Stuck Door and Escaped Before It Was Fully Engulfed In Flames” 0
I Paid Too Much For My 2024 Toyota RAV4 Because the Dealer Stung Me By Issuing a Verbally Undisclosed Credit Card For an Extra $1,500 Down Payment 24
2024 Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, “I Change the Oil In My Tacoma Every 3,500 Miles, I Don’t Care That Toyota Says Change It Every 10,000 Miles” 20
Tesla Model Y Owner Says, “I Made a Delivery To a Building’s Unplowed Parking Lot, I Was Pushing Snow With My Bumper, and My Y Took It Like a Champ” 0
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “Driving My Cybertruck Has Been a Transformative Experience, It Reshaped My Daily Commute and My Outlook On Life” 4
I Bought a 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum and Someone Stole My Taillights, It Cost Over $3,000 For the Pair, and I Was the 6th Guy Into the Dealer That Day 14
My 2024 Genesis GV80 Just Told Me My Posture Is Bad and Now It’s Giving Me a Massage, I Didn’t Turn This On and I Really Don’t Know What’s Going On 0
“This Is How Life Feels With My $6,000 1997 Toyota Corolla With 78K Miles and No Car Payment” 0
I Just Bought a 2025 Honda Civic Sport With Only $1K Down, a Co-Signer and Have a $558 Payment, Because I Wanted a Brand New Car With CarPlay 5
I Didn't Think My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Off Road Would Lose So Much Value After Just One Year, the Dealer Only Offered Me $38,000 Trade-In 11
My Tesla Cybertruck Was Keyed With a Knife Down the Side, I’m a School Teacher, My Husband is a Construction Worker, and We’ve Worked Incredibly Hard to Own Our CT 11
Honda Tech Says, “I Would Never Buy This Model Year Honda Odyssey, This Vehicle Is a Blemish On the Brand” 49
I’m Looking at the 2025 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, I Like the Appearance of the Model 3 More, But Which One Is More Suitable For a Single Woman? 4
I Just Bought a 2024 Toyota RAV4 But I Should’ve Gone With the Leather Seats, It’s Like Ugly Carpet Versus Beautiful Hardwood Flooring, Now I’m Stuck With It 7
I Can’t Believe the Amount of Tension Between Me and My 2024 GMC Yukon Denali, It’s All Because Of This Auto Stop Button 3
My 2020 Toyota Supra Needs Over $4,000 In Repairs, It Was My Dream Car When it First Came Out, But Now I Don’t Know 8
They Told Me, Get a Ford Raptor Truck So I Did, But the First Time I Filled Up Cost Me $137, Are You Kidding Me? 17
Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Took My Cybertruck To the Car Wash and They Refused to Wash My Truck, They Said It Will Void My Warranty and They Would Be Liable” 4
I’m Driving a Paid Off 10 Year Old Honda CR-V Because It Costs Nothing to Run and Who Wants a $500 Per Month Car Payment? 52
My 2024 Tundra Started Smoking at 11K, Toyota Bought It Back, Put Me In a Limited For the Same Price, Say What You Want, But Toyota Took Care of Me 10
CO Tesla Dealer Is Vandalized 3 Times in 10 Days, Tesla Owners FB Page Says, “Recent Attacks Are Not Limited to Dealerships But Also Extend to Tesla Owners” 0