Cars 2 is the direct sequel to Pixar’s Cars and was released in 2011.
The film was directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Brad Lewis. It moves much of the action away from Radiator Springs and follows an international racing competition called the World Grand Prix.
Mater becomes central to the plot after being mistaken for an American spy. Lightning McQueen competes in races against Francesco Bernoulli, while the story combines racing with espionage in locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London.
Cars 2 was Pixar’s twelfth feature film and the studio’s first film released in Disney Digital 3-D. It was also the second Pixar feature to receive a G rating from the Motion Picture Association after Toy Story. The film’s spy-story emphasis makes it tonally different from Cars, which focuses more heavily on friendship, community, and life along Route 66.