Cars 2 was the first sequel in Pixar's Cars series.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 continues the stories of Lightning McQueen and Mater after the events of the 2006 original Cars. Rather than focusing mainly on McQueen's personal growth in Radiator Springs, the sequel sends the characters around the world for the World Grand Prix and a spy adventure.
John Lasseter directed Cars 2, with Brad Lewis serving as co-director. The film was Pixar's twelfth feature-length animated film and its first sequel after Toy Story 3 in the studio's release order. Cars 3 followed in 2017 and returned more strongly to McQueen's racing career.
The title can create confusion because Cars 3 is the later sequel and because Pixar also produced the spin-off film Planes through Disneytoon Studios. Planes is set in the broader world of talking vehicles but is not the first sequel in Pixar's Cars film series.