Cars 2 is the first sequel in Pixar’s Cars franchise.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 follows the 2006 original Cars and comes before Cars 3, which arrived in 2017. The sequel changes the series’ emphasis from small-town racing and personal growth to international racing, espionage, and secret-agent technology.
Lightning McQueen competes in the World Grand Prix, while Mater becomes involved in an intelligence operation after being mistaken for an undercover agent. The film visits Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London, making it the most geographically wide-ranging entry in the trilogy.
Cars 2 was directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. A common mistake is to call Cars 3 the first sequel simply because it is the third numbered film, but Cars 2 clearly occupies that position. It is also Pixar’s first feature sequel outside the Toy Story series.