Cars 2 is the only Pixar Cars feature centered on a spy adventure.
The sequel combines international racing with espionage. Mater is mistaken for a secret agent and becomes involved with Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell, while Lightning McQueen travels between World Grand Prix venues. The story includes surveillance, hidden identities, sabotage, and secret technology.
The first Cars focuses on Lightning's personal growth after he becomes stranded in Radiator Springs. Cars 3 returns to a sports drama about aging, training, mentorship, and the arrival of faster competitors. Cars 2 therefore stands apart in genre as the franchise's spy-oriented installment.
The film's spy influences include classic British and international espionage stories, while its racing scenes use fictional locations such as Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Mater's accidental-agent role is the main reason the sequel is often described as a spy comedy as well as an animated racing film.