Cars 2 is the direct sequel to Pixar’s Cars and follows Mater on an international spy mission.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 sends Lightning McQueen and Mater to the World Grand Prix, a race held in locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Mater becomes entangled in an espionage plot involving secret agents, an energy project, and a plan to disrupt the competition.
The film was directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. It expands the Cars setting beyond Radiator Springs and introduces characters such as Finn McMissile, Holley Shiftwell, and Professor Zündapp.
Cars 3 is the later sequel and returns to a more grounded racing story about Lightning’s career. Planes is a separate DisneyToon Studios spin-off set in the same broad vehicle-centered world, while Toy Story 2 belongs to another Pixar franchise. Cars 2 is specifically the second numbered Cars feature film.