Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars movie to feature Finn McMissile.
Finn McMissile is a British spy car who recruits Mater after mistaking him for an American agent. He is an Aston Martin DB5-inspired character and serves as one of the film’s main action heroes. His espionage mission is connected to the World Grand Prix and the dangerous plot surrounding Allinol.
The character marks a major change in the franchise’s storytelling. The original Cars centers on a stranded racer and a small Route 66 community, while Cars 2 uses international locations, secret identities, surveillance, chases, and gadgets. Finn’s design deliberately echoes classic spy films, especially the tradition of sophisticated British secret agents.
Cars 3 returns to competitive racing and does not make Finn the focus of its story. That makes Cars 2 the clear first appearance of the character in a feature film. Finn later appears in additional Cars media and franchise merchandise.