Get in gear for this Friday’s Cars 3 with our Cars characters guide!
Disney•Pixar‘s Cars 3 is zooming into theaters this Friday, June 16. Before the franchise returns, we’re heading back to the film’s automotive world to take a look at some of the key Cars characters. In the gallery viewer below, you can take a look at some returning favorites like Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), young race trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), #95’s rival Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) and race analyst Natalie Certain (Kerry Washington). The film is directed by Brian Fee, who was a storyboard artist for Cars and Cars 2.
RELATED: Lightning McQueen Has a Midlife CARisis in Final Cars 3 Trailer
Disney•Pixar‘s Cars 3 begins when, blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
Cars 3 also features the return of Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Bonnie Hunt as Sally Carrera, and Cheech Marin as Ramone alongside lots of brand-new Cars characters. NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suárez and Bubba Wallace will lend their voices to the film as well.
Cars 3 actually marks the fifth feature film set in the Cars universe. DisneyToon studios also released two spinoff films, Planes and Planes: Fire and Rescue, set in the same automative universe.
Which of these Cars characters are your favorites? Who are you most excited to see back on the big screen? Let us know your thoughts below in the comments or tweet us @ComingSoonnet.
Cars 3 Character Guide
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Lightning McQueen
Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), otherwise known as #95 is a race car who is full of drive and determination. Though he's been a champion in the past, he's now facing a major challenge from faster, younger cars.
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Mater
Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) is a tow truck and best friend of Lightning McQueen. He may not be super bright, but he's got a lot of heart.
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Cruz Ramirez
Cruz Ramirez is an eager young trainer working in Sterling's center. She's excited to train her idol Lightning McQueen, though she harbors a secret dream of racing herself.
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Sterling
Sterling is a super wealthy car who owns the Sterling center. He's taken over the training of Lightning from the Rust-eze boys. Sterling is voiced by Nathan Fillion in Cars 3.
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Natalie Certain
Natalie Certain, a well-respected race analyst, is voiced by Kerry Washington in Cars 3.
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Jackson Storm
Jackson Storm is newer, more technologically advanced and faster than Lightning McQueen. He's also not exactly nice about it. Storm is voiced by Armie Hammer in Cars 3.
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Miss Fritter
Miss Fritter is the star of the demolition derby that Cruz and Lightning McQueen participate in. She's played by Lea DeLaria and sports her signature black glasses in Cars 3.
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The Legends
The Cars 3 Legends who help out Lightning. They're all based on famous people from the history of racing. From left: River Scott (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Junior “Midnight” Moon (Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson), Smokey (Chris Cooper), Louise “Barnstormer” Nash (Margo Martindale), and Lightning himself (Owen Wilson).
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Mack
Mack is voiced by Pixar alum John Ratzenberger. 1985 Mack Super-Liner and is a member of Rust-eze Medicated Bumper Ointment Team who pulls Lightning McQueen to races.
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Rusty and Dusty Rust-Eze
Rusty and Dusty Rust-Eze are the owners of Rust-Eze, the company that sponsors Lightning McQueen. In Cars 3, they take a step back. They're voiced by Tom and Ray Magliozzi, the real-life brothers who hosted National Public Radio's Car Talk.
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Chick Hicks
Chick Hicks, voiced by Michael Keaton in Cars and by Bob Peterson in Cars 3, is the main rival for the title against Lightning McQueen.
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Sally Carerra
Sally Carerra is the town attorney and Lightning McQueen's girlfriend. Sally is voiced by Bonnie Hunt.
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Doc Hudson
Doc Hudson is a legendary racer, and the town doctor. He's Lightning McQueen's mentor and has since passed away. He'll be seen in flashbacks in Cars 3. He was voiced by Paul Newman.
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Sheriff
Voiced by Route 66 historian Michael Wallis, Sheriff is somewhat distrustful of Lightning McQueen in the first two films, but comes around at the end of Cars 2.
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Luigi
Luigi is voiced by Tony Shalhoub and is the owner of Casa Della Tires in Radiator Springs. He's a friend to Lightning McQueen.
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Guido
Guido is voiced by Guido Quaroni and is Luigi's assistant. He's an Italian forklift truck and works at Casa Della Tires in Radiator Springs.
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Ramone
Ramone is voiced by Cheech Marin and owns Ramone's House of Body Art store, where he keeps the cars looking spiffy. He's married to Flo.
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Fillmore
Fillmore was first voiced by George Carlin, and after his death, by Brian George and Mark Silverman. He's a bit of a hippie and is a Volkswagen Type 2.
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Flo
Flo is voiced by Jennifer Lewis and is the owner of Flo's V-8 Café. She's married to Ramone.
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Finn McMissile
Finn McMissile is a British spy who mistakes Mater for an American spy and recruits him for a mission in Cars 2. Finn is voiced by Michael Caine.
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Holley Shiftwell
Holley Shiftwell is young British spy-in-training who has all the latest tech in Cars 2. Holley is voiced by Emily Mortimer.
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Francesco Bernoulli
Francesco Bernoulli is voiced by John Turturro and is rather full of himself. He's a racing champion in Cars 2.
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Jeff Gorvette
Jeff Gorvette is voiced by real-life racing star Jeff Gordon. Gorvette is a racing star and a major competitor for Lightning McQueen in the Grand Prix in Cars 2.
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Sir Miles Axelrod
Sir Miles Axelrod is voiced by Eddie Izzard and the villain of Cars 2. He pretends to care about alternative fuel but is behind the plot to sabotage the Grand Prix.
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Mamma Topolino
Mamma Topolino is the best cook in the Italian village of Carsoli and is Luigi's aunt. She's voiced by Vanessa Redgrave.
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Rod Redline
Rod "Torque" Redline is the American agent that Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell think Mater is. He's voiced by Bruce Campbell.
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John Lassetire
John Lassetire is voiced by Pixar founder and director John Lasseter. He's the pit crew head for Jeff Gorvette in the Grand Prix in Cars 2.
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Bob Cutlass
Bob Cutlass is a world renowned sports announcer and is voiced by sports announcer Bob Costas. He'll return in Cars 3.
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Jay Limo
Jay Limo is voiced by late night talk show host and car enthusiast Jay Leno. Jay Limo is a comedian and talk show host.
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Strip Weathers
Strip Weathers is voiced by Richard Petty and is also known as the king. He's a seven-time Piston Cup Champion, but now wants to spend time with his wife Mrs. The King.
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Lizzie
Lizzie is the wife of the late town founder of Radiator Springs, Stanley. Lizzie is voiced by Katherine Helmond.
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Professor Zündapp
Professor Zündapp, also known as Professor Z is voiced by Thomas Kretschmann. He's a mad German scientist and weapons specialist who is trying to sabotage the Grand Prix in Cars 2.
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Vladimir Trunkov
Vladimir Trunkov is voiced by Stanley Townsend who used to be a smuggler. Now he deals in information.
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Crabby the Boat
Crabby the Boat is voiced by Deadliest Catch star Sig Hansen. He's a crab boat who's been chartered for a mysterious mission in Cars 2. He's designed to look like Hansens' actual boat.
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Otto Von Flasenbottom
Otto Von Flasenbottom is voiced by Dee Bradley Baker and is a fan of driving on the Autobahn in Germany and isn't a fan of speed limits.
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Darrell Cartrip
Darrell Cartrip is voiced by Darrell Waltrip. Darrell Cartrip is ex-Piston Cup Champion who calls races with Bob Cutlass.
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Siddeley
Siddeley is a British spy plane who works with Finn McMissile in Cars 2. Siddeley is voiced by Jason Isaacs.
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David Hobbscap
David Hobbscap is voiced by David Hobbs and is an old timer from the racing circuit. Now he works as an announcer.
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Tomber
Tomber (pronounced tom-bay) is voiced by Michael Michelis. He's a French three-wheeled car who sells some legit and some not-so-legit parts in a French marketplace. He's an acquaintance of Finn McMissile in Cars 2.
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Minny
Minny is voiced by Edie McClurg and along with her husband Van (voiced by Richard Kind) likes to explore. She and Van, however, rarely find their exit.
