October’s Car of the Month has been awarded to Sophomore Kaiden Tirado’s 2017 Hyundai Elantra. Tirado’s Elantra showcases a nice electric blue color wave with modern modifications while maintaining the sleek Hyundai look.

Tirado’s family has owned the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, nicknamed “Ellie,” since the model year, as it was once his mom’s car, which is a big reason why it holds many core memories.

“The special story behind the car is that my mom got it for her birthday, and then for my birthday, I got it, which means so much to me.” Tirado on the unique story behind the car. 

Once Tirado officially received the keys, he knew he had to make modifications to make it feel like his own car. He added rear spoilers, blacked out the badges, installed new interior lights, and even painted the grill from silver to black.

“The ambient lighting on the inside is by far my favorite feature,” Tirado said. 

The modifications make the Elantra unique. Modded Elantras are rare to see on the road, and Tirado describes them as unusual. 

The sophomore isn’t done yet, “I want to add a lip kit, diffuser, splitter, side skirts, and all that good stuff, and someday add coils to make it a little lower.” Tirado said when asked about his future modifications.

Since the sixth grade, Tirado has always been a car person, and ever since he became the owner, he’s reflected his love for cars. Whether that’s by telling people about his car or even the modifications he’s made, you can truly sense his passion for cars. 

With each year comes new drivers, meaning more cars to be bought. Tirado believes there are many better cars out there than Elentras and advises future car buyers interested in the model to get a different vehicle or save more and get something better. 

Compared to almost any car in the parking lot, Tirado’s 2017 Hyundai Elantra stands out not only because of its electric blue color but also because of everything he has done for it. It definitely has earned the title: “October’s Car of the Month.”