We recently had a chance to screen about 40 minutes of Cars 3, the upcoming installment in Pixar’s anthropomorphic-automobile saga. The good news is that, after the uneven, Mater-centric detour of the second movie, the focus is squarely back on what the series did best in the first film: weave a rich tapestry of automotive nerdery and idyllic Americana set against the backdrop of stock-car racing.
In the new film, the Last Great American Hero makes an appearance as Junior Moon, a home-brew “fuel” runner turned early racer. Nico Rosberg’s favorite guy, Lewis Hamilton, makes his second appearance in a Cars picture, this time as Lightning McQueen’s J.A.R.V.I.S.-like digital assistant, and the whole wacky gang from Radiator Springs returns—even the late Paul Newman’s Doc Hudson gets some screen time. Fresh on the scene are Cristela Alonzo’s Cruz Ramirez, the trainer who helps whip Lightning back into shape after a brutal crash; McQueen’s younger nemesis, Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer); and Nathan Fillion as Sterling, Lightning’s new team owner.
Click through for a look at both new characters from the film, as well as fresh renderings of old favorites.
1
Lightning McQueen
Voiced by Rushmore co-writer and Zoolander co-star Owen Wilson, the McQueen of Cars 3 is older and wearier, staring down the end of his professional racing career. The Pixar team took away some of his catlike bounce and treat him to a massive wreck and a subsequent grand funk that he’s gotta fight his way out of.
2
Cruz Ramirez
An overly spunky trainer who works for Sterling’s squad, Cruz is tasked with getting McQueen back into shape; the friction and eventual mutual understanding between the characters provides the film’s emotional centerpiece. Cruz is voiced by comedienne Cristela Alonzo.
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3
Jackson Storm
Like Lightning in the first film, Jackson Storm is quick, co*cky, and friendless. He also lacks McQueen’s goofy charm. Younger, fitter, and faster than the aging vet, the Armie Hammer–voiced Storm stands as McQueen’s archrival on the track.
4
Strip “The King” Weathers
The Petty Blue Plymouth Superbird, voiced by King Richard himself, returns for an appearance, this time as crew chief for his nephew, Cal Weathers.
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5
Cal Weathers
Voiced by Kyle Petty, son of Richard and grandson of NASCAR pioneer Lee, Cal Weathers shares Lightning’s wariness of the young generation. Unlike McQueen, he may not be out to beat them.
6
Tex Dinoco
’75 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Tex Dinoco, voiced by legendary racing promoter Humpy Wheeler, returns, still hoping to add McQueen to his roster.
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7
Sterling
Browncoats rejoice! Firefly and Castle star Nathan Fillion makes an appearance as Sterling, McQueen’s new boss, whose plans for the aging champ may be at odds with McQueen’s own desires.
8
Natalie Certain
Scandal’s Kerry Washington takes a turn as Natalie Certain, a statistical analyst whose calculations are anathema to McQueen’s seat-of-the-pants style.
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9
Junior “Midnight” Moon
An old-time, bona fide legend of the early Piston Cup circuit and contemporary of the late Doc Hudson, McQueen’s mentor, Junior Moon is based on and voiced by the singular Junior Johnson, one of the most colorful characters in the history of American racing. His character model is based on Johnson’s old ’39 Ford.
10
River Scott
Based on pioneering African-American driver Wendell Scott—the first black man to win a major NASCAR race—River Scott is voiced by The Wire’s Isiah Whitlock, Jr.
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11
Louise “Barnstormer” Nash
Louise Smith passed away about two months before the first Cars film was released. The franchise pays tribute to the woman they called the First Lady of Racing with Louise Nash, voiced by Margo Martindale, who played the memorably hard Mags Bennett on Justified.
12
Smokey
Chris Cooper gives voice to a former Piston Cup team owner based on racing’s most famous rule-bender, Smokey Yunick. If you’re even a casual motorsport aficionado, his first appearance in the film will tug hard at the heartstrings in that particular Pixar manner.
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13
Shannon Spokes
Shannon Spake of Fox Sports appears in automotive form as Shannon Spokes, a track reporter for the Racing Sports Network.
14
Ramone
Ramone, Cheech Marin’s ’59 Chevy, once again rolls low and slow on the streets of Radiator Springs.
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15
Sally Carrera
Bonnie Hunt returns as Sally Carrera, McQueen’s 996-generation Porsche 911 girlfriend.
16
Mack
Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger reprises the role of McQueen’s race transporter, Mack.
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17
Fillmore
Lloyd Sherr plays Fillmore for the second time. The Microbus was voiced by the late George Carlin in the first film.
18
Sarge
Paul Dooley plays Willys MB Sarge for the third time.
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19
Flo
Ramone’s wife and proprietor of the V8 Café, Flo, is once again voiced by Jenifer Lewis.
20
Lizzie
Katherine Helmond returns as Radiator Springs’ doddering old Model T matriarch, Lizzie.
Davey G. Johnson
Contributing Editor
Davey G. Johnson has been writing about the machines that move us since 2001. His first automobile was an El Camino, his first motorcycle a Guzzi, and his first sports car a Porsche, informing his admittedly fungible belief that one should haul American, drive German, and ride Italian.
Remembering Davey
