Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars movie released in 3D.
The 2011 sequel expanded the franchise from the American road setting of the first film into an international racing and espionage adventure. Its theatrical presentation included Disney Digital 3-D, allowing the World Grand Prix courses and action sequences to use stereoscopic depth.
Cars, released in 2006, was shown in standard 2D theatrical formats. Cars 3, released in 2017, also received 3D presentations, but it was not the first Cars feature to do so.
Cars 2 was directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. It follows Lightning McQueen's races across several countries while Mater becomes involved in an undercover investigation. The combination of global locations, racing speed, and spy gadgets distinguished its visual style from the more reflective, small-town story of the original.