What species of vehicle is Cruz Ramirez in Pixar's Cars 3?

Cruz Ramirez is a race car in Pixar's Cars 3.

Cruz begins the film as Lightning McQueen's high-performance trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Although she has extensive technical knowledge and simulator experience, she has not achieved her dream of becoming a top-level racer. Her work with Lightning gradually reveals her own ability and ambition.

The character's design is a yellow sports coupe intended for racing. Cruz's story parallels Lightning's earlier development while reversing their positions: Lightning is the veteran struggling to adapt, while Cruz is the talented newcomer who needs confidence and opportunity.

Cruz is sometimes described only as a trainer because that is her initial job in Cars 3. By the end of the film, however, she competes as a professional racer. Her change from trainer to driver is a key part of the movie's resolution and does not make her a tow truck, police car, or ordinary road vehicle.