Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars film to feature international locations such as Tokyo and London.
The 2011 sequel expands the series from American road racing into a global spy adventure. The World Grand Prix takes contestants to Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London, while Mater becomes involved in an espionage plot with British agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell.
The original Cars largely stays within the United States, especially Radiator Springs and locations linked to the Piston Cup. Cars 3 returns to a more focused racing story centered on McQueen, Cruz Ramirez, and the Florida 500. Cars 2 is therefore distinct both in setting and tone, using spy-film conventions alongside the franchise's racing characters.