Cars 3 was the first Pixar Cars movie to feature Cruz Ramirez as a major character.
Cruz is introduced as a trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center, where she helps prepare Lightning McQueen for the modern Piston Cup season. Although she initially sees herself as a coach rather than a racer, her abilities and ambitions become increasingly important to the story.
The film explores the tension between veteran competitors and a new generation of data-driven racers. Cruz represents both sides of that conflict: she understands modern training methods but also has a deep personal love of racing.
Cars 3 eventually gives Cruz a more active role in competition, making her one of the franchise's central characters. She is voiced in English by Cristela Alonzo. Cars on the Road came later as a television series, but it was not a feature film and does not mark Cruz's introduction.