Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars film centered on international espionage.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 follows Mater as he is mistaken for an American secret agent during the World Grand Prix. The plot brings Lightning McQueen and Mater to races and locations in Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom. British spy cars Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell become major characters in the adventure.
The film differs sharply from Cars, whose story is mainly a personal and community-focused road trip, and Cars 3, which returns to Lightning's struggle within professional racing. Cars 2 uses the franchise's vehicle world for a spy parody involving an international conspiracy, advanced technology, and secret missions.
John Lasseter and Brad Lewis directed Cars 2. Although McQueen remains important, Mater is the narrative viewpoint character for much of the movie. That emphasis explains why the sequel is often described as a spy-comedy adventure rather than a conventional racing drama.