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At Normal, Ill., the Eagle will fly on a new set of wings next month.

That’s the approximate introduction time for the all-new 1995 Eagle Talon from Normal-based Diamond Star Motors. The joint venture between Chrysler Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors will bring out a new coupe that should continue to thrill driving enthusiasts.

“I’m looking to get our first ones toward the end of May,” said Kevin O’Brien, president of Tom O’Brien Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep-Eagle. “Initially, it’s going to be pretty limited availability, but we should see some pretty good numbers by late June.”

The ’95 Talon, a sibling of the Mitsubishi Eclipse, is being heralded by Chrysler as the next step in progressive design.

“We didn’t want to re-invent the Talon,” says Joe Caddell, general manager for Chrysler’s small-car platform team. “We just looked at ways to improve those things that it already does so well.”

One of those things is to give drivers the ride of their lives, especially in turbocharged form. And this continues with the new car to be offered in a variety of models.

The sports-oriented coupe will be available in three performance levels — the ESi, the TSi and the top-line TSi AWD (all-wheel drive). The AWD car is aimed at flyers who like to let everything hang out in the corners.

Chrysler is making some major contributions to the ESi version.

On line is a Chrysler-designed and -built non-turbo 2.0-liter, double overhead cam, 16- valve, four-cylinder motor. And a Chrysler-built five-speed manual transmission or a Chrysler four-speed automatic delivers power to the front wheels.

The 140-horsepower 2.0-liter is standard fare in the entry-level Talon. There’s a predecessor 2.0-liter 16-valve engine available as a 1994 option at 135 horsepower, but the 1995 motor is a new powerplant.

Not only is the horsepower higher, but so is the torque — 130 foot-pounds vs. 125 for the older engine.

Caddell may not have re-invented the Talon, but he sure changed it. The new body is 50 percent stiffer, and torsion rigidity has been improved 60 percent.

The car also has been given a longer wheelbase and a wider track for new levels of handling and steering responsiveness.

The increased resistance to body twisting in fast turns helps the car keep all four wheels on the pavement for better control.

To complement the structural integrity, all Talon models will have new suspension systems. All four wheels are independently sprung, with double wishbone suspension elements front and rear.

The TSi and TSi AWD include a specially tuned enthusiast suspension package that provides more ride control.

Mitsubishi’s turbocharged 2.0-liter 16-valve four-cylinder is standard on both TSi versions, and they’re really pulling some power out of 121 cubic inches of displacement.

The turbo 4 produces 210 horsepower and 214 foot- pounds of torque, up from 195 horsepower and 205 foot pounds from earlier versions of this engine. I’m going to estimate that the AWD model will po st 0- 60 mph times in the low 6 seconds bracket.

This much power has to induce some torque steer (pull to the right) on a full-throttle off-the-line run with a front-wheel-drive-only TSi. It’s going to take driving with all four wheels to obtain maximum traction with such a potent machine.

The coupe appears to be a pretty slick-looking piece of rolling stock. The exterior has flowing aerodynamic lines, with headlamp lenses extending well inward toward the front center line of the car.

A redesigned interior is anchored by a new instrument panel that flows uninterrupted into the doors. And there is full instrumentation, with the turbo models including a boost gauge.

The 1994 Talon DL had an entry-level price of $12,300, but O’Brien believes the 1995 ESi may be slightly above this.

“It’s more car,” he said, “with dual air bags and other features as standard. They are things we didn’t have before, and it’s going to be a really great sports coupe for us.”

19 95 Eagle Talon E Si Base price: Not available.Type: Front engine, front-drive, four-passenger sport coupe.Engine: 2.0 liters, DOHC inline 4, 16 valves, fuel-injected, 140 horsepower, 130 foot-pounds of torque.Transmission: Five-speed manual.Mileage: 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway.Wheelbase: 98.8 inches.Length: 172.2 inches.Width: 68.3 inches.Height: 51.0 inches.Curb weight: 2.758 pounds.Options: Deluxe stereo, automatic transmission, ABS braking, power accessory group, sun roof, rear defogger.