Cars 3 is the 2017 Pixar film that continues Lightning McQueen's story after Cars 2.
The film follows McQueen as a new generation of technologically advanced racers threatens his place in the sport. His principal rival is Jackson Storm, and he trains with Cruz Ramirez while trying to adapt to changing expectations in racing.
Cars 3 was directed by Brian Fee and released in the United States on June 16, 2017. It returns the series to a more character-focused racing story after Cars 2's international spy plot. The film also explores McQueen's relationship with the late Doc Hudson, whose legacy influences his choices.
Cars 3 is the third feature in the main Cars series. It is distinct from Cars on the Road, a later episodic series released on Disney+, and from the theatrical spin-off Planes, which is set in the broader world of talking vehicles.