Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars film to feature a spy-adventure plot.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 sends Lightning McQueen and Mater on an international journey connected to the World Grand Prix. Mater is mistaken for an American spy and becomes involved with Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell while a criminal scheme threatens the race series.
The film expands the franchise beyond Radiator Springs and traditional stock-car racing. Its settings include locations inspired by Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom, giving the story a globe-trotting structure. Mater’s accidental involvement makes him the emotional and comedic center of the espionage plot.
Cars 2 was directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Brad Lewis. It is notably different in tone from the first Cars movie and from Cars 3, which returns to a more intimate story about McQueen’s racing career, training, and legacy.