Pixar’s Cars introduces Radiator Springs as Lightning McQueen’s unexpected home.
After accidentally damaging the town’s main road, McQueen is ordered by the local judge to repair it before leaving. The punishment keeps him in Radiator Springs, where he meets residents including Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, Mater, and Luigi. The town becomes the emotional center of the film.
Radiator Springs is a fictional community on historic U.S. Route 66. Its story reflects the real towns that lost travelers and business when Interstate 40 replaced much of the old highway’s role in long-distance travel. Pixar artists researched Route 66 and incorporated details from real roadside landmarks into the town’s design.
Cars 2 moves much of its action around an international race and spy adventure, although Radiator Springs still appears. Cars 3 returns more strongly to the town and to McQueen’s relationship with its residents.