Cars 2 makes Mater the central character of an international spy adventure.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 follows Lightning McQueen as he enters the World Grand Prix, an international race organized by Sir Miles Axlerod. Mater travels with him and is mistaken for an undercover American agent by spies Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell.
The story combines racing with espionage, taking the characters to locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Mater’s accidental behavior repeatedly creates confusion, but his unusual honesty and observational skills help uncover the conspiracy.
Cars 2 was directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. Unlike the first Cars film, which centers on McQueen’s personal growth in Radiator Springs, the sequel uses a globe-spanning action structure and gives Mater the main narrative role. The film was Pixar’s twelfth feature-length release.