Acura EL

Acura EL
Manufacturer	Acura
Parent company	Honda
Production	1997–2005
Assembly	Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Predecessor	Acura Integra sedan
Successor	Acura CSX
Class	Entry-level luxury car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual

1.6EL
Production	1997–2000
Class	Subcompact luxury car
Engine(s)	D16Y8 1.6 L I4 (127 hp)(108 Tq)
Wheelbase	103.1 in (2620 mm)
Length	176.3 in (4478 mm)
Width	67.1 in (1705 mm)
Height	54.9 in (1395 mm)

1.7EL
Production	2001–2005
Class	Compact luxury car
Engine(s)	1.7 L SOHC I4 (127 hp)
Wheelbase	103.1 in (2620 mm)
Length	2001-03: 176.7 in (4488 mm) 2004-05: 177.4 in (4505 mm)
Width	67.5 in (1715 mm)
Height	56.7 in (1440 mm)

In 1997, the Acura EL was born as a compact entry-level luxury car developed by Honda as an entry-level vehicle (the EL in the car name), and sold only in Canada. It replaced the Integra sedan in the lineup, while the Integra sedan continued to be sold in the United States until 2001. The car had two different generations, and was sold from 1997 to 2005. The EL was Acura's top seller in Canada, since the Civic is the best-selling car in Canada. The first generation was a subcompact car, while the second generation became a compact car. The Acura EL was the first B-segment luxury car in North America. All ELs were built at Honda's Alliston, Ontario, Canada plant (home of the Civic), and also the first Acura built in Canada. The first generation of the EL was a rebadged version of the Japanese market Honda Domani. Sold as the Acura 1.6EL, it was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model. The designation was based on engine displacement, indicative of its 1.6 L engine(D16Y8), with power reaching 127 hp@6600 rpm 107tq@5500 rpm , thanks to the use of Honda's VTEC valve timing control (VTEC kick at 5600 rpm) (having a redline of 7200 rpm) . Only available as a four-door sedan, it featured luxury trimmings not available on the similar Honda Civic. The EL was completely redesigned in 2000 (as a 2001 model) and was now based on the seventh generation Civic. In addition to the slightly more powerful and torquier VTEC-equipped 1.7 L 4-cylinder SOHC engine (badging correspondingly changed to Acura 1.7EL; engine size was dropped from the model name for 2005) with 127 hp (95 kW), distinctive headlight and taillight designs and available leather interior trimmings set it apart from the Civic. The car simply changed its badge from 1.7EL to EL. The Acura EL was replaced for the 2006 model year by the Acura CSX, based on the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic. Like the EL, the CSX is available only in Canada.