Cars 2 features Mater being mistaken for an American spy.
During the international racing tour, British agent Finn McMissile and spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell mistake Mater’s accidental behavior for deliberate undercover expertise. Mater becomes involved in a mission connected to a secret weapon and an international conspiracy, even though he is actually an ordinary tow truck from Radiator Springs.
This misunderstanding gives Cars 2 a spy-film structure rather than the small-town and racing focus of the original Cars. Lightning McQueen competes in the World Grand Prix while Mater’s espionage adventure unfolds alongside the races.
The premise is not part of Cars or Cars 3. Cars centers on Lightning’s stay in Radiator Springs, while Cars 3 returns to his rivalry with the newer generation of racers. Cars 2 is also notable for taking the franchise to several international locations and making Mater a central viewpoint character.