P.M. BRIEFING : Mitsubishi Inching Into Europe

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said today that it will begin selling in Europe its top-of-the-line automobiles manufactured in the United States and Japan--a move likely to intensify competition between Japanese auto makers overseas.

“We are still studying the possibility of setting up a production base in Europe,” a Mitsubishi spokesman said. “No decision has been made yet.”

Mitsubishi said it will start marketing the U.S.-built four-wheel-drive Eclipse in Europe next spring.

The company also said it will export to Europe early next year the Diamante, its first large compact car, which was introduced in Japan in May.

The Eclipse model is assembled by Diamond-Star Motor Corp., a 50-50 joint venture with Chrysler Corp. based in Bloomington-Normal, Ill.