What is the fictional Arizona town where Lightning McQueen meets the Cars characters?

Radiator Springs is the fictional Arizona town where Lightning McQueen meets the Cars characters.

After damaging the road while being transported to a race, Lightning is ordered to repair Radiator Springs. The town sits along historic Route 66 and has been bypassed by a newer interstate, leaving its businesses struggling.

Its residents include Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, Ramone, Flo, Luigi, Guido, and Fillmore. As Lightning spends time there, he learns about friendship and the value of slowing down.

Radiator Springs is fictional, but its atmosphere reflects real Route 66 towns in Arizona and elsewhere. Pixar artists researched the highway and its roadside landmarks for visual inspiration.