Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars movie centered on international espionage.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 follows Lightning McQueen as he enters the World Grand Prix, a race held in several international locations. Mater becomes involved with British spies Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell after being mistaken for an undercover agent.
The film’s main story concerns a conspiracy involving Allinol fuel, electromagnetic weapons, and a group of cars seeking to discredit alternative fuel. This makes Cars 2 structurally different from Cars and Cars 3, which focus more directly on McQueen’s personal and racing development.
Cars was the franchise’s 2006 origin film, while Cars 3 returned to a more traditional racing and mentorship story. Planes is a separate film connected to the broader world of Cars, not a Cars sequel.