Acura EL
Encyclopedia
Introduced in 1997, the Acura EL was a rebadged Japanese Honda Domani
for the Canadian market, sold as a compact
entry-level luxury car (EL). It replaced the Integra sedan in the Canadian lineup, while the Integra sedan continued to be sold in the United States
until 2001. The Acura EL remained through two generations, and was sold from 1997 to 2005. Both generation were considered 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.
Representing 51% of Acura Canada's annual new-vehicle sales in its first full year, the EL remained Acura's top seller in Canada from 1997 to 2003. The Acura EL was replaced for the 2006 model year by the Acura CSX
. Like the EL, the CSX is available only in Canada.
ese market Honda Domani
, which was essentially a 1997-2000 Honda Civic, with altered front end, trunk, lights and various interior pieces. Honda sold the upscale Domani at Japanese dealership sales channel called Honda Clio that sold large, or well equipped luxury sedans like the Honda Legend
and the Honda Inspire
, and sold the more affortable Honda Civic at Honda Primo locations. Sold in Canada as the Acura 1.6EL, it was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model. Seeing as sales within Canada for the 4 door Acura Integra were extremely low, Honda decided to discontinue sales of the 4 door Integra and introduce the Acura EL which only came as a four door. The name was chosen due to its 1.6 L Engine I4
engine
(D16Y8), with power reaching 127 hp at 6600 rpm 107 ft.lbf at 5500 rpm, thanks to the use of Honda's VTEC
valve timing control. Only available as a four-door sedan, it featured luxury trimmings not available on the similar Honda Civic
.
Each Acura EL included things Honda Civics never received such as: Amber lit LED interior dash display, Tachometer was standard, All levels of trim received 15" wheels standard (195/55/15), Power trunk and alarm (Cars never had a keyhole on the trunk), Antenna built into the rear window glass, Chrome door handles on the interior, Extra pocket underneath centre console, Paint-matched mirrors, side moldings, and door handles, slightly stiffer suspension, 12mm rear sway bar and 26mm front sway bar, heated mirrors, and an amplifier.
1997-1998 Years
All models on the Acura 1.6 EL had the above listed options, however base models between 97-98 did not include CD player or Air Conditioning. They however come with standard 5-spoke 15" alloy wheels.
Sport Models
All Sport Models came standard with Air Conditioning and CD changer.
Premium Models
Between the years of 1997 and 1998, Premium models featured a Sunroof, Leather Seats, spoiler, as well as the alloy wheels. The Stereo also had a noise cancellation system (Acoustic feedback system) in the stereo: a microphone in the rear speakers detected any sunroof or road noises and would increase or decrease the stereo's volume.
1999-2000 Years
Base and Sport Models
The base model in these years featured all the standard EL features, however now all EL's had Air Conditioning and CD changers. The only variance between the Sport and Base model was that the Base model received a set of unique 15" hubcaps with 15" steelies, where as the Sport model came standard with 15" 5-spoke "turtle" wheels. All 1999-2000 models had folding heated mirrors now, and an upgraded grille on the front end. 5 Speed models also received a leather wrapped shift knob on all models, similar to the one found in the Acura Integra GSR.
Premium Models
Just like in previous years, Premium Models featured Leather seats, however now the seats had heaters built into them. The acoustic feedback system was also in these models, and the premiums of these years received an extremely stylish polished 15" alloy wheel.
-equipped 1.7 L 4-cylinder SOHC engine with 127 hp (95 kW), distinctive headlight and taillight designs and available leather interior trimmings noticeably set it apart from the Civic. Other differences include 15” multi-spoke alloys, heated power mirrors, cruise control, and rear disc brakes. The badging was changed to Acura 1.7EL and was dropped altogether for 2004.
The second generation EL was available in two trims levels: touring and premium. The latter added leather seats, heated front seats and a power sunroof. Automatic climate control was added for the premium trim in 2003, and for the touring trim as well in 2004. All second generation EL models came with ABS anti-lock braking, but in 2003 an electronic brakeforce distribution
system was made standard. For 2003 and 2004 a special dealer-installed 'aero package' was made available for both trims levels which added unique front and rear lips, side stills and a rear spoiler. In 2004, the EL underwent a slight exterior makeover with restyled headlamps, front bumper and grille, taillights, trunklid, and rear bumper. The new sportier look came with standard fog lights, a restyled steering wheel, new woodgrain trim patterns, and two additional tweeters powered by two amplifiers to complete the 6-speaker audio system.
Honda Domani
The is a car made by Honda and marketed in east Asia, including Japan. It was introduced in November 1992, replacing the Concerto in Honda's lineup, although that model lasted until 1995 in Europe...
for the Canadian market, sold as a compact
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
entry-level luxury car (EL). It replaced the Integra sedan in the Canadian lineup, while the Integra sedan continued to be sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until 2001. The Acura EL remained through two generations, and was sold from 1997 to 2005. Both generation were considered a compact car
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
. The Acura EL was the first B-segment luxury car in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. All ELs were built at Honda's Alliston, Ontario
Alliston, Ontario
Alliston is a settlement in Simcoe County in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is part of the Town of New Tecumseth since the 1991 amalgamation of Alliston and nearby villages of Beeton, Tottenham, and the Township of Tecumseth...
, Canada plant (home of the Civic), and also the first Acura built in Canada.
Representing 51% of Acura Canada's annual new-vehicle sales in its first full year, the EL remained Acura's top seller in Canada from 1997 to 2003. The Acura EL was replaced for the 2006 model year by the Acura CSX
Acura CSX
The Acura CSX, or Honda Civic for the Japanese domestic market , is Acura's entry-level luxury car exclusively designed for the Canadian market. The CSX is the first Acura model with two predecessors, the Integra sedan and the EL...
. Like the EL, the CSX is available only in Canada.
First generation (1997–2000)
The first generation of the EL was a rebadged version of the JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese market Honda Domani
Honda Domani
The is a car made by Honda and marketed in east Asia, including Japan. It was introduced in November 1992, replacing the Concerto in Honda's lineup, although that model lasted until 1995 in Europe...
, which was essentially a 1997-2000 Honda Civic, with altered front end, trunk, lights and various interior pieces. Honda sold the upscale Domani at Japanese dealership sales channel called Honda Clio that sold large, or well equipped luxury sedans like the Honda Legend
Honda Legend
The Honda Legend is a mid-size luxury car made by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was the result of Project XX, a joint agreement started in November 1981 with the Austin Rover Group of Great Britain and was mechanically related to the Rover 800 series....
and the Honda Inspire
Honda Inspire
The Honda Inspire is a luxury sedan introduced by Honda in 1990 and based on the Honda Accord chassis. The first Inspire debuted in 1990 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, then the Honda Vigor was exported to the USA as an Acura...
, and sold the more affortable Honda Civic at Honda Primo locations. Sold in Canada as the Acura 1.6EL, it was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model. Seeing as sales within Canada for the 4 door Acura Integra were extremely low, Honda decided to discontinue sales of the 4 door Integra and introduce the Acura EL which only came as a four door. The name was chosen due to its 1.6 L Engine I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
(D16Y8), with power reaching 127 hp at 6600 rpm 107 ft.lbf at 5500 rpm, thanks to the use of Honda's VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
valve timing control. Only available as a four-door sedan, it featured luxury trimmings not available on the similar Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
.
Each Acura EL included things Honda Civics never received such as: Amber lit LED interior dash display, Tachometer was standard, All levels of trim received 15" wheels standard (195/55/15), Power trunk and alarm (Cars never had a keyhole on the trunk), Antenna built into the rear window glass, Chrome door handles on the interior, Extra pocket underneath centre console, Paint-matched mirrors, side moldings, and door handles, slightly stiffer suspension, 12mm rear sway bar and 26mm front sway bar, heated mirrors, and an amplifier.
1997-1998 Years
All models on the Acura 1.6 EL had the above listed options, however base models between 97-98 did not include CD player or Air Conditioning. They however come with standard 5-spoke 15" alloy wheels.
Sport Models
All Sport Models came standard with Air Conditioning and CD changer.
Premium Models
Between the years of 1997 and 1998, Premium models featured a Sunroof, Leather Seats, spoiler, as well as the alloy wheels. The Stereo also had a noise cancellation system (Acoustic feedback system) in the stereo: a microphone in the rear speakers detected any sunroof or road noises and would increase or decrease the stereo's volume.
1999-2000 Years
Base and Sport Models
The base model in these years featured all the standard EL features, however now all EL's had Air Conditioning and CD changers. The only variance between the Sport and Base model was that the Base model received a set of unique 15" hubcaps with 15" steelies, where as the Sport model came standard with 15" 5-spoke "turtle" wheels. All 1999-2000 models had folding heated mirrors now, and an upgraded grille on the front end. 5 Speed models also received a leather wrapped shift knob on all models, similar to the one found in the Acura Integra GSR.
Premium Models
Just like in previous years, Premium Models featured Leather seats, however now the seats had heaters built into them. The acoustic feedback system was also in these models, and the premiums of these years received an extremely stylish polished 15" alloy wheel.
Second generation (2001–2005)
The EL was completely redesigned for the 2001 model year and was then based on the seventh generation Civic. In addition to the slightly more powerful and torquier VTECVTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
-equipped 1.7 L 4-cylinder SOHC engine with 127 hp (95 kW), distinctive headlight and taillight designs and available leather interior trimmings noticeably set it apart from the Civic. Other differences include 15” multi-spoke alloys, heated power mirrors, cruise control, and rear disc brakes. The badging was changed to Acura 1.7EL and was dropped altogether for 2004.
Electronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
system was made standard. For 2003 and 2004 a special dealer-installed 'aero package' was made available for both trims levels which added unique front and rear lips, side stills and a rear spoiler. In 2004, the EL underwent a slight exterior makeover with restyled headlamps, front bumper and grille, taillights, trunklid, and rear bumper. The new sportier look came with standard fog lights, a restyled steering wheel, new woodgrain trim patterns, and two additional tweeters powered by two amplifiers to complete the 6-speaker audio system.