Cars 2 takes Pixar’s Cars characters on an international spy adventure.
The 2011 sequel follows Lightning McQueen as he enters the World Grand Prix, a global racing event created by oil magnate Miles Axlerod. Mater becomes involved in a covert espionage operation after British agents mistake his accidental behavior for expert undercover work.
The story expands the series beyond Radiator Springs and visits locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell are secret agents who investigate a plot connected to a dangerous alternative fuel.
Cars 2 differs sharply in tone from the first film by emphasizing spy-movie action and Mater’s comic perspective. Cars 3 later returned to a more racing-focused story about McQueen’s struggle against a new generation of competitors. The title Cars 2 identifies the second feature film, not a short or television special.