Cars 2 features Mater becoming involved in an international spy adventure.
In the film, Mater travels with Lightning McQueen during the World Grand Prix. British spy Finn McMissile mistakes Mater’s accidental observations for evidence of undercover expertise, drawing him into a conspiracy involving the races and a dangerous alternative fuel.
This spy-thriller format makes Cars 2 notably different from the original Cars, which centers on McQueen’s stay in Radiator Springs, and Cars 3, which focuses on his struggle against younger competitors. Mater’s comic misunderstandings drive much of the sequel’s action, while McQueen’s racing career remains the parallel storyline.
Cars 2 was directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis and released in 2011. It introduced several international locations and new characters, including Holley Shiftwell and Finn McMissile. The film is therefore the Cars entry specifically associated with Mater’s espionage plot.