New detailed artist renderings of the next-generation Saturn Astra have been posted by Motor Authority. The sketches are based on a prototype seen undergoing testing at the Nurburgring.

In Europe, the "2010 Astra will be based around GM's Delta FWD compact platform and will once again be available in coupe, three and five-door hatchbacks and wagon, as well as a sedan in select markets." The hatchback and sedan versions of the car are expected to be offered when the new model is available in the 2011 model year. Significantly, the online car magazine says that both Saturn and Opel versions of the Astra will be offered with GM's state-of-the-art two-mode hybrid system.

A heavily camouflaged prototype of Opel's next-generation Astra hatch was recently spotted racking up some laps at Germany's Nurburgring circuit, and these latest renderings give us a good indication of what the final version could look like. The new model is crucial for GM as it will need to recover market share lost by the current model to Ford's strong-selling Focus hatch as well as fend off the upcoming Fiesta compact. The new Astra is expected to go on sale in Europe following its debut at next year's Frankfurt Motor Show and will eventually reach the U.S. one year later where it will be sold as a Saturn. Opel will also launch a new two-mode hybrid version although it won't arrive until the end of 2010, which coincides with the U.S. launch of the Saturn version.