Cars 2 was the Pixar Cars film released in 2011.
It is the second feature in the Cars series and arrived five years after the original Cars. The story shifts from Lightning McQueen’s personal growth to a global adventure involving the World Grand Prix, secret agents, and a conspiracy involving alternative fuel.
Lightning competes for the United States, while Mater becomes entangled in espionage after British agents mistake him for a skilled operative. Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell provide the film’s spy-movie framework, and races take place in locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London.
Cars 3 followed in 2017 and returned more strongly to Lightning’s racing career and his relationship with Cruz Ramirez. The word “first” here refers to the release year of the sequel, not the first film in the franchise: the original Cars premiered in 2006.