The European market for Opel/Vauxhall Senators died with the preference switch to premium brands, just like the market for Ford Granada/Scorpio and Rover SD1/800series - there's no place in European mainstream for cars that big/expensive.
Mainstream RWD is dead and long gone in Europe, never to return because mainstream buyers don't care which axle is driven - get used to it.
$20 Billion losses at FWD comprimises Kodak Opel the way to go, thats what you call progress Mmmm.
Quality RWD Jaguar- RWD/4WD Land Rover a tiny company just made $4 billions in profits, and they just turned in another $1 billion in profit the last quarter. Yet another quality RWD producer making big money in Europe at the moment.
Low volume RWD BMW & Mercedes Benz "mainstream" experts axle has replaced the mass produced mass produced FWD compromise Mondeo & Insinia no-hopers axle in the large car segment in Europe.
European sales 2013 large car segment.
RWD BMW 3 Series 201,026
RWD Mercedes Benz C Class 120.285
RWD BMW 5 Series 107,307
RWD Mercedes E Class 106,559
FWD Opel/Vauxhall Insignia 77,127
FWD Ford Mondeo 50,180
RWD BMW & RWD Mercedes are "mainstream" producers in the large car segment, both never sold a thing in Europe 30 years ago, but are making billions in profits today in Europe. Ford were bashing out 375,000 Cortina/Taunus were No1 in Europe, sending billions in profit back to the Blue Oval bank manager in Europe, Ford used the money to snaping-up companies like Jaguar/Land Rover with those big RWD Cortina/Taunus record breaking EU profits. What has gone wrong today why is the Mondeo/Insignia a non-player today, what has "mainstream" BMW & Mercedes Benz got that separates them others than the drivetrain, in the large car segment?
RWD BMW 3 Series had very low volume car sales 30 years ago in this sector, how did the RWD BMW 3 series move from low volume producer to outselling everything in the whole FWD Opel line-up last year except the Corsa Rupert?
FWD large cars at both Ford & Opel have handed gift wrapped the large car market, and handed over to RWD BMW & Mercedes in Europe who were both low volume producer 30 years ago with very tiny sales numbers, now RWD BMW & RWD Mercedes are now the MASS PRODUCERS own the large car market, mass producing billions in profits in Europe, as Opel lose billions.
How did the these two low volume producer winners that wiped out FWD Opel large car in the very lucrative large car segment Rupert what went wrong at Opel? RWD BMW & Mercedes are your so called "Mainstream" large cars that own this market, are the new "mass producers" Opel and Ford thrown in the towel with crap FWD according to you are no-can-do, whilst "mainstream" RWD BMW & RWD Mercedes Benz make billions in profits in the large car segment.
RWD BMW 3 Series 200,000 sales v FWD Ford Mondeo 50,000 last year, in the large car segment, which is drivetrain of choice in the large segment. Seem like BMW are "mainstream" making billions in profit in Europe, Ford are low volume player losing billions in Europe. Opel roll over and die can't do RWD lose billions, as the BMW 3 Series outsell everything in the Opel shed except for the Corsa last year.
Those were the days though Rupert when Opel were very capable, very able, made huge profits on v8 Opel Diplomat, Opel Kapitan & Opel Admiral cars and were held in the same regard same reverence as a Mercedes Benz.
I find it kinda of sad today that Opel have lost all that reverence, respect when they were up there held in the same regard as a Mercedes Benz and now they are no-can-do premium RWD anymore junk FWD brand, that lose $20 billions.
The 4WD Mokka is a good start a step right direction at Opel its a high-end premium car, l like that it's gonna generate some much needed revenue on roof for Opel, when Opel offer premium cars at the top end of the market - Europeans jump at chance when offered it, and buy it from Opel.. GM Europe needs more premium cars like this in EU line-up, premium top end cars like this are gonna put Opel back on the road to profabilty again.
Adam Opel would "turn-in-his-grave" if he awoke saw the FWD Kodak crap Opel were churning out today in Europe losing $20 billions.