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* HistoryRepeats: Just as what happened to Doc, following the introduction of Jackson Storm and the next-gens, he suffers a violent, near-fatal crash that questions the future of his career, and worries about an imminent retirement. [[spoiler: While he doesn't retire, he still becomes a mentor to Cruz, a car who's just starting her racing career, and before that - like what happened with The King - she helps him finish the race.]]
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* DarkAndTroubledPast: Back in 1954, he crashed in the middle of a race and everyone worried about his future. After being repaired, he was replaced by a rookie and lost his career for good.
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misuse and doesn't explain the "dork" part
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* {{Adorkable}}: Sure he's a hero and all, but he has his cute moments time to time.
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** '''Wingo'' has an upturned spoiler that looks like a wing.
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** '''Wingo'' '''Wingo''' has an upturned spoiler that looks like a wing.
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* BadassDriver: Literal example as he's a race car with mad skills. Demonstrated at the Dinoco 400 in the first film as he squeezes past a car by tilting and jumping clear of a wreckage, and at the Los Angeles 500 and Florida 500 in the third film when he manages to pass several next-gens quite easily.
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* StealthPun: His current racing getup as of ''Cars 3'' has the Rust-eze logos on his hood and fenders slightly enlarged. This exaggerates the fact that he is all grown up.
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* OlderThanTheyLook: He's a veteran in the third film, yet he looks the same as he did as a rookie and kept that appearance since then, years apart.
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* OlderThanTheyLook: He's a veteran in the third film, yet he looks the same as he did as a rookie and kept that appearance since then, years apart. This is repeatedly teased throughout said film when characters say he's old, despite the fact he still looks young. He still even ''sounds'' young as well.
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* SkunkStripe: His original Rust-eze appearance from the first film had a yellow stripe on his back bumper, which is a homage to the NASCAR when rookies have such on their cars. Unlike NASCAR however, Lightning's bumper was entirely yellow, rather than just a double stripe on either end used in real life.
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* SkunkStripe: His original Rust-eze appearance from the first film had a yellow stripe on his back bumper, which is a homage to the NASCAR when rookies have such on their cars. Unlike NASCAR however, Lightning's bumper was entirely yellow, rather than just a double stripe on either end used in real life.
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* RightOutOfMyClothes: He does this in the third film, complete with his electronic suit ripping to shreds when he does an astounding leap in the forest, reverting to his natural appearance.
* SkunkStripe: His original Rust-eze appearance from the first film had a yellow stripe on his back bumper, which is a homage to the NASCAR when rookies have such on their cars. Unlike NASCAR however, Lightning's bumper was entirely yellow, rather than just a double stripe on either end used in real life.
* SkunkStripe: His original Rust-eze appearance from the first film had a yellow stripe on his back bumper, which is a homage to the NASCAR when rookies have such on their cars. Unlike NASCAR however, Lightning's bumper was entirely yellow, rather than just a double stripe on either end used in real life.
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* TransformationSequence: He is shown having this in each film whenever he changes into a special paint job.
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->'''Basis:''' 1960 VW Bus.
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->'''Basis:''' 1960 VW Bus.
Bus
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* InkSuitActor: He looks like a car-ified version of his voice actor dead-on, especially the mustache-sequel grille.
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* InkSuitActor: He looks like a car-ified version of his voice actor dead-on, especially the mustache-sequel mustache-esque grille.
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* DarkIsNotEvil: She's black, but really friendly and humorous.
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* RetiredBadass: He retired after the first film, but still has a lot left in him, such as when he acted as crew chief for his nephew Cal.
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* BishieSparkle: Often when he is seen speeding by from a long enough distance, his paintwork briefly gives off a faint glow. One of his lightning bolt stickers also glows whenever he strikes a pose and says his famous catchphrase.
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-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a week, on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''AND I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I never get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
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-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a week, ''week'', on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''AND I ''I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I never ''never'' get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
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* TenMinuteRetirement: When he isolates himself in Doc's garage for four straight months following his near-fatal crash, thinking the same that happened to Doc will happen to him.
* {{Adorkable}}: Sure he's a hero and all, but he has his cute moments time to time.
* BadassAdorable: He's a racing sensation and quite handsome, to be exact.
* ExpospeakGag: "I'm a precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics."
-->'''Mater:''' You hurt your what?
-->'''Lightning:''' ''I'M A VERY FAMOUS RACE CAR!!''
* [[FieryRedHead Fiery Red Car]]: His red paint job totally matches his personality full-on.
-->'''Mater:''' You hurt your what?
-->'''Lightning:''' ''I'M A VERY FAMOUS RACE CAR!!''
* [[FieryRedHead Fiery Red Car]]: His red paint job totally matches his personality full-on.
* HeroicBSOD: Suffers at least one of these in each film:
** First film: After ending his call with Harv, when he learned about Doc's crash and felt bad for himself, and shortly before his departure when saying goodbye to Sally.
** Second film: When he reads Mater's note and feels sorry for him.
** Third film: When he is stunned after Jackson taunted him at the Los Angeles 500 just before his crash, and during his TenMinuteRetirement in Doc's garage.
* HeroicRROD: His crash in ''Cars 3'' counts as one since seconds before his tire blows out, he can be heard breathing heavily as he struggles to catch up to Storm.
** First film: After ending his call with Harv, when he learned about Doc's crash and felt bad for himself, and shortly before his departure when saying goodbye to Sally.
** Second film: When he reads Mater's note and feels sorry for him.
** Third film: When he is stunned after Jackson taunted him at the Los Angeles 500 just before his crash, and during his TenMinuteRetirement in Doc's garage.
* HeroicRROD: His crash in ''Cars 3'' counts as one since seconds before his tire blows out, he can be heard breathing heavily as he struggles to catch up to Storm.
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** In the first film, he crashes into a cactus patch twice, with a saguaro falling on him the second time, while attempting to make the sharp turn at Willy's Butte, but survived. He was also almost murdered by Frank.
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** In the first film, he barely manages to beat a train and also crashes into a cactus patch twice, with a saguaro falling on him the second time, while attempting to make the sharp turn at Willy's Butte, but survived. He was also almost murdered by Frank.
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-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a week, on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''AND I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I never get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
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-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a week, on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''AND I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''' TRAINER!!!!!''''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I never get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
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* GratuitousItalian: The first and second films show he can speak at least some Italian.
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: He delivers a rather hurtful one to Cruz when he has come nowhere to being ready for the race due to helping her instead.
-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a week, on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''AND I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I never get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a week, on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''AND I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I never get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
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* StopHelpingMe: His initial attitude towards Cruz's training methods in the third film.
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* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Unlike most other race cars, his body type is quite unique. His hood area is squished in a little and the sides are raised up slightly, and his spoiler is bigger and curves in at the middle. This sets him apart from the others. Considering that [=McQueen's=] ''Cars 3'' specs says he's a ''custom built racer'' this is not a surprise.
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* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Unlike most other race cars, his body type is quite unique. His hood area is squished in a little and the sides are raised up slightly, and his spoiler is bigger and curves in at the middle. This sets him apart from the others. Considering that [=McQueen's=] ''Cars 3'' specs says he's a ''custom built racer'' racer'', this is not a surprise.
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* WorthyOpponent: Following his HeelFaceTurn, [=McQueen=] respectfully treats every opponent as a friendly opposition, and even at worst regarded Jackson Storm in ''Cars 3'' as a goal to surpass rather than an enemy. Even ''before'' his CharacterDevelopment, he had a warm and profound respect for his seniors and heroes who came before him, The King in particular, a trait that Chip notably ''lacked.''
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* WorthyOpponent: Following his HeelFaceTurn, [=McQueen=] respectfully treats every opponent as a friendly opposition, and even at worst regarded Jackson Storm in ''Cars 3'' as a goal to surpass rather than an enemy. Even ''before'' his CharacterDevelopment, he had a warm and profound respect for his seniors and heroes who came before him, The King in particular, a trait that Chip Chick notably ''lacked.''
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* WorthyOpponent: Following his HeelFaceTurn, [=McQueen=] respectfully treats every opponent as a friendly opposition, and even at worst regarded Jackson Storm in ''Cars 3'' as a goal to surpass rather than an enemy. Even ''before'' his CharacterDevelopment, he had a warm and profound respect for his seniors and heroes who came before him, The King in particular, a trait that Chip notably ''lacked.''
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* KarmaHoudini: The fact that by Cars 3, instead of being punished for what is essentially ''attempted murder'' of The King for his ill-gotten Piston Cup, Chick instead became host of a popular television show that's watched by millions ''really'' leaves a '''sour''' taste in one's mouth.
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* TearsOfRemorse: Sheds these in the first film shortly before his departure, notably the first time he actually broke down.
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* SymbolMotifClothing: True to his name, he has lightning bolts on his sides. These are also tipped with flames for the World Grand Prix in ''Cars 2'', which carry over to his usual racing getup as of ''Cars 3''.
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* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Unlike most other race cars, his body type is quite unique. His hood area is squished in a little and the sides are raised up slightly, and his spoiler is bigger and curves in at the middle. This sets him apart from the others.
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* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Unlike most other race cars, his body type is quite unique. His hood area is squished in a little and the sides are raised up slightly, and his spoiler is bigger and curves in at the middle. This sets him apart from the others. Considering that [=McQueen's=] ''Cars 3'' specs says he's a ''custom built racer'' this is not a surprise.
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->'''Basis:''' 2016 Custom-built Piston Cup racer ("A hybrid between a stock car and a more curvaceous Le Mans endurance racer")
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->'''Basis:''' 2016 2006 Custom-built Piston Cup racer ("A hybrid between a stock car and a more curvaceous Le Mans endurance racer")
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->'''Basis:''' 2016 Custom-built Piston Cup racer ("A hybrid between a stock car and a more curvaceous Le Mans endurance racer")
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->'''Basis:''' 1951 International Harvester L-170 "boom" truck
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->'''Basis:''' 1951 Hudson Hornet
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->'''Basis:''' 2002 996-series Porsche 911 Carrera
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->'''Basis:''' 1960 VW Bus.
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->'''Basis:''' 1941 Willys model jeep
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->'''Basis:''' 1959 Fiat 500 (Luigi) & Custom Isetta forklift (Guido)
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->'''Basis:''' 1957 Motorama show car
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->'''Basis:''' 1959 Chevrolet Impala Lowrider
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->'''Basis:''' 1960s style fire truck
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->'''Basis:''' 1949 Mercury Club Coupe
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->'''Basis:''' 1923 Ford Model T
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->'''Basis:''' 1985 Mack Super-Liner
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->'''Basis:''' 1970 Plymouth Superbird
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->'''Basis:''' Generic 1980s stock car
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** In addition, while he had his usual vibrant red shade with his first paint job in the first film, this represented his original personality where he was stuck-up and vain. When Ramone gives him a new paint job to impress Sally, he changes to a darker red with sparkles, to show he's warming up to the others and learning the film's moral. Come the finale, he has combined this paint job with portions of his racing getup, showing his HeelFaceTurn is complete.
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* ColorMotif: Normally his paint jobs are a luminous vivid shade of red, representing his confidence. At the beginning of ''Cars 3'' however, he has a different paint job that is a more dull red shade, complete with a different version of the Rust-eze logo. This represents he's being blindsided by Jackson Storm and the next-gens and unintentionally foreshadows the violent crash he will suffer later on.
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* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Unlike most other race cars, his body type is quite unique. His hood area is squished in a little and the sides are raised up slightly, and his spoiler is bigger and curves in at the middle. This sets him apart from the others.
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* OlderThanTheyLook: He's a veteran in the third film, yet he looks the same as he did as a rookie and kept that appearance since then, years apart.
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** "I'm sorry, Mater. That did not happen." (In ''Mater's Tall Tales)
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* {{Catchphrase}}:
** "Dad gum!"
** "Fu-un!"
** "Shoooot!"
** "Git-r-done!"
** "I used to be a (insert job here)." (In ''Mater's Tall Tales)
** "Don't you remember? You was there, too!" (In ''Mater's Tall Tales)
** "Dad gum!"
** "Fu-un!"
** "Shoooot!"
** "Git-r-done!"
** "I used to be a (insert job here)." (In ''Mater's Tall Tales)
** "Don't you remember? You was there, too!" (In ''Mater's Tall Tales)
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* BlueIsHeroic: He is navy blue with chrome accents.
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* IcyBlueEyes: Representing his tough, former racing nature, and the fact he starts off cold at first. This contrasts with Lightning who has the "innocent" variant (though he has the "icy" variant prior to his HeelFaceTurn).
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* InnocentBlueEyes: Has light teal eyes which represent her adoration towards the town, and for being the first one who deeply cared about Lightning.
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* RetiredBadass: Averted. [[spoiler: Despite Cruz winning the race for him and allowing him to continue racing if he wanted. He decides his talents would be better spent becoming a coach and teaching the new generation of racers the tricks of the trade.]]
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* RetiredBadass: Averted. Zig-zagged. [[spoiler: Despite Cruz winning the race for him and allowing him to continue racing if he wanted. He decides his talents would be better spent becoming a coach and wanted which he happily accepts, he chooses to spend the rest of the current season as her crew chief, teaching the new generation of racers the tricks of the trade.trade. This makes him sort of ''semi''-retired.]]
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[[center: [- [[Characters/{{Cars}} Main Character Index]] | '''First Film''' | [[Characters/CarsSecondFilm Second Film]] | [[Characters/CarsThirdFilm Third Film]]]]-]
Characters of the ''Franchise/{{Cars}}'' franchise introduced in the original 2006 film itself.
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[[foldercontrol]]
!!Radiator Springs
[[folder:Lightning [=McQueen=]]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lightning_McQueen_4_5819.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[CatchPhrase Ka-chow!]]"'']]
->'''Voiced by:''' Owen Wilson (Films), Keith Ferguson (TV and other media)
->''"The racing is the reward, not the stuff!"''
A young, ambitious but arrogant, self-centered race car who wants to win the Piston Cup. His desire to be the first to California leads him getting lost and stranded in Radiator Springs. However, his time with the eccentric townsfolk open his eyes to his own demeanour and learns to slow down in life, turning him into a better person. In ''Cars 2'', he participates in the World Grand Prix. Unlike most of the other characters in the franchise, [=McQueen=] is not based on any one real world design, instead incorporating design features from many different sports and racing cars.
----
* TheAce: A champion in the racing world.
* AffectionateNickname: "Stickers" by Sally.
* AlliterativeName: His real first name is [[spoiler:'''M'''onty.]]
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: In ''Cars 3''. First Jackson Storm, then [[spoiler: Cruz Ramirez]].
* AwesomeMcCoolname: '''Lightning''' [=McQueen=].
* TheBet: Ends up going through one in ''Cars 3'' - he has to win the Florida 500 or he'll lose his job forever.
* BigNo: He says this in ''Cars 3'' (along with a RapidFireNo) as he struggles to catch up to Jackson; notably the last thing he says before his iconic crash.
* BuffySpeak: "I think you're forgetting the insulting part of that insult."
* ButtMonkey: In ''Mater's Tall Tales''. It is rare for one to not involve something bad happening to him. Though he does have his moments in the films as well.
* {{Catchphrase}}:
** "Ka-chow!"
** "Speed...I am speed."
* CharacterDevelopment: He goes from a selfish {{Jerkass}} to a more sympathetic JerkWithAHeartOfGold in the first movie. [[spoiler: Come the third, not only is he still the warmhearted racing legend of today, he is also a wise and proud teacher just like Doc was.]]
* CharacterTic: In the first film, he often sticks his tongue out when thinking of something.
* CostumeEvolution: As of ''Cars 2'', his sticker decal headlights and taillights are removed and replaced with actual working ones.
%%* DeadpanSnarker: He has his moments, especially pre-HeelFaceTurn toward the Radiator Springs folk.
* DecoyProtagonist:
** Becomes this throughout ''Cars 2'' due to Mater taking up most of the story.
** The ''Cars 3'' advertisements play up his return to the role of protagonist, but [[spoiler: it's, ultimately, Cruz Ramirez's rise to glory as a racer. Though he does play a pivotal part in it]].
* TheDeterminator: Being a racer, he gets this feeling ''a lot'', especially before his HeelFaceTurn when he skips a pit stop and refuses a tire change as an excuse to remain in the lead.
* DueToTheDead: [[spoiler: At the end of ''Car 3'', he paints himself up in Hudson's colors to commemorate him.]]
* DudeWheresMyRespect: In ''Cars 3'', he gets a lot of guff about his age from Doc's old racing friends who are ironically decades older then him. And, most if not ''all'' of the next gen racers especially Storm, have little to no respect for him as a racer. Also, while she is a fan of his, Cruz unintentionally insults [=McQueen=] about his age by calling him her "senior project". For the most part, his reaction ranges from mild annoyance to agitation.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: In the tie in book; Cars Origins: Struck by Lightning, his actual name is [[spoiler: Monty [=McQueen=]]]. He changed it once he became a rookie. Even Sarge comments the name ''Lightning'' is more fitting.
* EmergingFromTheShadows: How we first meet him in the first film.
* EtTuBrute: He felt this way after [[spoiler:Mater causes him to lose the first race in the World Grand Prix.]]
* FishOutOfWater: After he first enters Radiator Springs.
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine and choleric.
* FriendlessBackground: He didn't have any friends other than Mack prior to his HeelFaceTurn in the first film, as evidenced by his downcast expression after he ends his call with Harv.
* GratuitousRap: He uses Cruz's workout song to his adventage to get her to accept his apology and makes up his own rap out of it.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: In-universe, Lightning seems to be very popular in Japan.
* TheHero: Of the first film and entire franchise.
* HeelFaceTurn: He undergoes this throughout the first movie, finally becoming a good sport at the end.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Mater, even calling Mater his best friend at the end of the first film.
%%* HonorBeforeReason: At the end.
* IcyBlueEyes: Goes with how he was originally, when he was obnoxious and vain.
* InkSuitActor: Has a few features inherited from Owen Wilson's face, most notably the eye color.
* InnocentBlueEyes: Changes to these after his HeelFaceTurn, realizing there's much more to racing than winning and friendship is more important than just that.
* InsufferableGenius: He does grow out of the jerkass attitude, but his attitude does originally stem from the fact that he ''is'' a talented racer.
* ItsAllAboutMe: The old him acted this way.
* {{Jerkass}}: Starts out as this, an egotistical jerk who's only concerned with winning.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He becomes nice and likable by the end of the first movie. In ''Cars 2'', he harshly calls out Mater for his immature behavior throughout the movie, but still considers him his best friend. And in ''Cars 3'', [[spoiler: he goes on a tirade about how Cruz Ramirez is slowing him down and how she doesn't understand what is at stake for him since she is just a trainer. He then makes up for it later, when he takes her to Thomasville to find Doc Hudson's crew chief, Smokey.]]
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: His bright red coloring probably helped him on his rise to fame.
* LivingLegend: He's won seven Piston Cups in a row, making him this.
* MeaningfulName: "Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning."
* MentorArchetype: [[spoiler: Becomes Cruz's teacher at the end of ''Cars 3'' after she helps him save his job.]]
* NearDeathExperience: So far, Lightning has experienced at least one of these in each film:
** In the first film, he crashes into a cactus patch twice, with a saguaro falling on him the second time, while attempting to make the sharp turn at Willy's Butte, but survived. He was also almost murdered by Frank.
** In the second film, he was planned to be exploded by a bomb, but it was put in Mater instead. The lemons also tried to make him explode with the camera, but his Allinol gas was switched with Filmore's organic fuel so he was not affected.
** In the third film, he lost control while trying to catch up to Jackson and suffered a violent crash, but survived afterwards. He was also almost killed by Miss Fritter in the Demolition Derby.
* NiceGuy: As he becomes selfless and friendly at the end of ''Cars''. His kind nature becomes more emphasised in "Cars 3" when he discovers that [[spoiler: he won't be able to win against Storm no matter how much he trains hard for and he discovers Cruz's potential as a racer and decides to give up his racing place selflessly for Cruz to replace him and be a coach for her to successfully win against Storm in the Florida season race.]]
* TheNicknamer: He has named his tires "Lefty", "Righty", "Backy", and "Backy Junior".
* OfficialCouple: With Sally.
* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: In the third film, he faces Jackson Storm, a newcomer to the Piston Cup racing series who is arrogant and narcissistic, exactly how he was originally.
* OutOfFocus: In the sequel, a result of Mater taking the spotlight. He regains it in the third movie.
* PassingTheTorch: [[spoiler: Ultimately allows Cruz to finish the Florida race for him under his number. When she wins, his racing career is saved, and [[MentorArchetype he becomes her personal coach.]]]]
* RedIsHeroic: He is red, and the hero of the series.
* ReluctantRetiree: His conflict throughout ''Cars 3'', following a rather horrible crash similar to Doc's and The King's. [[spoiler: Thanks to Cruz taking his place in the final race and finishing it for him, they both share the victory and he doesn't have to retire.]]
* RetiredBadass: Averted. [[spoiler: Despite Cruz winning the race for him and allowing him to continue racing if he wanted. He decides his talents would be better spent becoming a coach and teaching the new generation of racers the tricks of the trade.]]
%%* SmugSuper: Initially.
* SupportingProtagonist: In the sequel.
* SweetHomeAlabama: Often he speaks with a light southern twang in his voice (Like his voice actor, which fades in an out time to time), hinting he's from the southern US, most likely Texas. The song "Real Gone" from the first film has the line "I was born in the south", alluding to this.
* TrashTalk: "I eat losers for breakfast!"
* TookALevelInKindness: His time in Radiator Springs really improved his demeanor.
* VagueAge: In ''Cars 3'', [=McQueen=] is teased about his age a lot, though it's never explicitly said how old he is. Brian Fee implies in an interview that Lightning is in his mid to late 40s.
* VitriolicBestFriends: With Mack and Mater in Cars 1 and 2. And Cal Weathers, Bobby Swift, and Cruz Ramirez in Cars 3.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sir Towbert "Tow" Mater]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mater_4_7146.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/LarryTheCableGuy
A rusty 1951 International Harvester tow truck. Mater comes off as a simple-minded stereotypical Southern hick, but he is a GeniusDitz, knowing a lot about engines, and can drive backwards using his rear view mirrors. He becomes Lightning's best friend and crew chief in ''Cars 2'', where he is mistaken for a spy by Finn [=McMissile=].
----
* {{Adorkable}}: He's so adorable and he's quite the dork.
* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler: In ''Cars 2'', after discovering that others think that he is just clueless and distracting]].
* BreakoutCharacter: He has spun off into his own series of shorts, and even managed to become the main character of the sequel.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He comes off as slow-witted and silly.
* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: In ''Cars'', the main character is Lightning, a HotBlooded racer who tries to get over his selfishness by spending time in a remote town called Radiator Springs. In ''Cars 2'', the main character is Lightning's friend Mater, a ditzy tow truck who is far more sensitive then Lightning and gets involved in a spy mission.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: The sequel definitely elevates him to this.
%%* {{Eagleland}}: Mater is viewed as a mix of Types 1 and 2 by foreign cars.
* FlyingCar: [[spoiler: Mater is able to fly by using his rocket boosters together with his parachute.]]
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine.
* FragileFlower: He gets very upset over every little thing. He's a very sensitive person and there were signs that he got upset in the first film but he showed more emotions in the second film.
* GeniusDitz: Despite seeming rather simple minded, he has very broad knowledge of car parts and engines and can identify any engine at a glance.
* GoodIsNotDumb: Being a GeniusDitz, [[spoiler:he manages to figure out Axlerod's involvement with the Lemons and his plot to discredit alternative fuel sources, forcing Axlerod to disarm the bomb.]]
* GreenEyes: Has emerald-green eyes which represent his youthful attitude and humorous hillbilly outlook.
* IWasQuiteALooker: During the "Our Town" sequence that shows Radiator Spring in the past glory days, Mater is shown to had cleaner and finer paintjob.
* IdiotSavant: He's a savant like Rain Man, but mostly in ''Cars 2''.
* InkSuitActor: Kinda has a few elements of his voice actor's face, even sharing a famous catchphrase as well.
* TheHero: Of the sequel.
* KidAppealCharacter: He is mostly adored by kids of all ages. Kids just love him because he's so lovable.
* KindheartedSimpleton: Mater is the most sweet-natured and loyal car in the franchise.
* {{Knighting}}: [[spoiler:By the Queen of England herself.]]
* LastNameBasis: He almost always goes by his last name, Mater, throughout the films. His first name is actually Towbert or Tow for short.
* ManChild: Mater literally is a young kid trapped in an adult man's body. He has the mental/emotional capacity of a 7 year old child, even though he's an adult.
* MistakenForSpies: By Holley and Finn, partially as a result of his fanciful storytelling. Mainly done because their ''true'' contact slipped the information on him, and due to his profession he knew the reconnection phrase.
* NiceGuy: Very kind-hearted, cheerful, and an incredibly loyal friend.
* ThePollyanna: Usually has an optimistic and positive attitude.
* SouthernFriedGenius: Mater knows everything about engines and engine parts, but in an idiot savant kind of way.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: In the sequel, where he's crucial to the plot and even gets top billing.
* VitriolicBestFriends: With Lightning.
* UnreliableNarrator: Of his own "Tall Tales" series.
* WhyAmITicking: [[spoiler:The Lemons plant a time bomb in his air filter as a backup plan to kill Lightning.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Doc Hudson/Fabulous Hudson Hornet]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Doc_Hudson_3_5742.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/PaulNewman (Film), Creator/CoreyBurton (Video Games)
A 1951 Hudson Hornet, Doc Hudson is Radiator Springs' medical doctor and judge. He sentences Lightning to fix the town's road after destroying it. He hides his past from his friends, which Lightning accidentally discovers, which Doc does not like one bit.
----
* CharacterDeath: He died some time before the start of the second movie. He has a hall of fame dedicated to him.
* CoolOldGuy: Despite being cold towards Lightning, he's actually a cool judge, doctor and [[spoiler:former racing champion and helps Lightning during the climax in the first film]].
* DeadpanSnarker: He has some touches of this. For example, after Lightning crashes into the cacti:
-->'''Doc:''' Was that floatin' like a Cadillac or stingin' like a Beamer? I'm confused.
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic and choleric.
* HangingJudge: Judging from his introductory speech.
* ForYourOwnGood: How he justifies selling out Lightning to the Piston Cup officials. Sally, Mater, and the rest of the town don't take it well.
* ICouldaBeenAContender: Sort of. [[spoiler:Doc did have a very successful career, holding the record for most wins in a single season. But after his wreck in '54, instead of returning to a hero's welcome he was labeled finished and replaced with the next rookie in line.]]
* InkSuitActor: Believe it or not, his features were inspired by his voice actor's face.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Sally accuses him of this when he alerts the Piston Cup officials to pick up Lightning.
%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
* LivingLegend: [[spoiler:Even after disappearing from the race scene after his nasty accident and the following mistreatment from his sponsors, everyone realized whom he was at the final race.]]
%%* NotSoDifferent: From Lightning.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Even though Doc Hudson prefers not to discuss his racing past, he alerts the media to Lightning's whereabouts after he leaves town, not wanting to be hounded by the paparazzi, and he even shows up at the Piston Cup race in his old racing colors as the head of Lightning Mcqueen's pit crew to lend his support.
* RetiredBadass: He was forced to retire from racing for good following his crash in '54, but still has the skills within to help Lightning.
* TricksterMentor: A version of this for Lightning towards his racing career.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sally Carrera]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sally_Carrera_3_5.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Don't fear failure. Be afraid of not having the chance, you have the chance!"'']]
->'''Voiced by:''' Bonnie Hunt
A Porsche 911 Carrera, Sally is an Los Angeles attorney who grew tired of her life in the big city and ended up in Radiator Springs. She becomes the town attorney and runs the Cozy Cone Motel. She longs to see the town restored to its former glory, and becomes Lightning's girlfriend.
----
* AllThereInTheScript: Her last name "Carrera" is not stated in the animation so far.
* EmbarrassingTattoo: A [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar tramp]] [[CrowningMomentOfFunny stamp!]]
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Phlegmatic.
* HelloAttorney: Lightning is immediately smitten when he sees her.
* NiceGirl: Sally is nice, friendly, pleasant, and kind to others.
* TheNicknamer: She calls Lightning "Stickers", referring to the various decals on his body. A few times throughout ''Cars 3'', she accidentally calls him "Stinky" due to his grey undercoat, only to correct herself.
* TrueBlueFemininity: She is light blue, representing her feminine nature.
* OfficialCouple: With Lightning.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fillmore]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Fillmore_3_9470.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/GeorgeCarlin (''Cars''), Lloyd Sherr (''Cars 2'' onward)
A Volkswagen Microbus, a NewAgeRetroHippie who sells organic fuel. Has a fiery friendship with Sarge.
----
* ActualPacifist: Goes with his hippie nature. More specifically, [[spoiler:he, along with Sally, were the only ones not to participate in the Radiator Springs vs. Lemon Gangs in London.]]
* NewAgeRetroHippie: Shaped like the hippies' signature vehicle, sells organic food and speaks with a calm ''duuude'' voice.
%%* TheStoner
* VerbalTic: He often ends sentences with "man", man.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Sarge.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sarge]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sarge_3_1927.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Paul Dooley
A 1951 Willys MB Jeep, Sarge is Fillmore's best friend and neighbour. He runs a surplus store.
----
* DrillSergeantNasty: Sarge does this during the end credits montage when running a boot camp for pampered [=SUVs=].
-->"A-TEN-SHUN! Kiss the pavement ''goodbye'', gentlemen! When I'm finished with you, you'll have mud in places you didn't know you '''had'''!"
-->"Yo, I never been off road!"
** Funnier considering that [[HummerDinger the complaining SUV is a Hummer - an off-road gas-guzzler known for being more commonly used for suburban driving.]]
* MeaningfulName: He's a jeep with a camouflage paint job who acts and sounds like a drill sergeant. He also plays "Reveille" every morning, which is almost drowned out by Fillmore's music.
* NoIndoorVoice: Often speaks like this.
* ProperlyParanoid: [[spoiler: He greatly distrusts Axlerod and switched out Lightning's Allinol with Fillmore's organic fuel. This is what actually saves Lightning from being killed later on.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Fillmore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Luigi and Guido]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Luigi__Guido_5595.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/TonyShalhoub (Luigi) & Guido Quaroni (Guido)
An Italian Fiat 500 and Isetta-based forklift. Guido and Luigi run Luigi's Casa Dell Tires, which has a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa made from tires. Luigi is a big fan of race cars, particularly Ferraris. Guido only speaks in Italian, and can change tires in seconds, wanting to perform a pit stop on Lightning during his time in town.
----
* AscendedExtra: Secondary characters throughout the movies, but in ''Cars 3'', they get a more prominent role as the only Radiator Springs citizens who accompany McQueen on his journey.
* BilingualBonus: Pretty much everything Guido says, seeing as how he can only speak Italian.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Guido is pretty silly, but his tire changing skills are something to behold.
* ChasteToons: Luigi's aunt and uncle (see below).
* FanBoy: Luigi's a hard core Tifosi and Michael Schumacher supporter. [[spoiler:He gets to meet Schumacher and gush all over him at the end of the film]]
* {{Keet}}: Guido especially, but both of them count.
* GratuitousItalian: Both of them, but Guido exclusively speaks in Italian.
* MrFixIt: Guido. A very fast one too, much to the Chick's forklifts' amusement.
* ThirdPersonPerson: "Luigi know what you want."
* ThoseTwoGuys: Luigi and Guido are the Italian mechanic version.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Flo]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Flo_2_5823.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Jenifer Lewis
Flo is the wife of Ramone, and is manager of Flo's V-8 Cafe gas diner. Her design is a stock 1950s show car.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: A deleted scene revealed Flo was a Motorama showcar, and came to Radiator Springs during a tour, falling in love with Ramone after he refused to alter her chassis out of admiration.
* HappilyMarried: To Ramone.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ramone]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ramone_3_8398.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' [[Creator/CheechAndChong Cheech Marin]]
Radiator Springs' body artist and husband to Flo, Ramone is a 1959 Chevrolet Impala. He is very proud of his art deco, usually altering his paint job in every new scene.
----
* HappilyMarried: To Flo.
* HotPaintJob: He's fond of giving these, as well as usually sporting one himself.
* PimpedOutCar: Aside from his numerous paint jobs, he possesses impressive hydraulics as well.
* ThirdPersonPerson: Often speaks like this.
* UnlimitedWardrobe: Ramone's got a different paint job in almost every other scene.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Red]]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Red_3_1130.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' [[Creator/PixarRegulars Joe Ranft]] (''Cars'')
A gentle fire truck. He is not one for words, is quite shy, and very fond of the plants in Radiator Springs.
----
* CryCute: He cries twice in the first film. Once after Lightning insults him and the other when [[spoiler:he thinks that Lightning has left Radiator Springs]].
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic.
* GentleGiant: He's the largest vehicle, but he also has the biggest heart.
* ShrinkingViolet: He's very shy when it comes to meeting new cars. In fact, he hid from Lightning during an attempt at a conversation.
* TheVoiceless: [[TheQuietOne He almost never speaks onscreen to begin with]], but after the death of his actor he becomes this in the sequel.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sheriff]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sheriff_3_2175.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Michael Wallis
Sheriff of Radiator Springs, a 1949 Mercury Eight police car.
----
%%* ByTheBookCop
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric.
* GenerationXerox: According to a guidebook on the blu-ray version, his entire family were cops.
* InkSuitActor: He looks like a car-ified version of his voice actor dead-on, especially the mustache-sequel grille.
* NoIndoorVoice: Hence being the police officer, he has his moments.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff of Radiator Springs.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Lizzie]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lizzie_2_7853.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Katherine Helmond
An elderly 1923 Ford Model T coupe, Lizzie is the widow of the town's founder Stanley. She runs Radiator Springs Curio, which sells car souveneirs and accessories.
----
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: A bit of one, presumably due to age. Refers to the television as the radio and after mentioning Big Al in the courtroom, Ramone points out he left years ago, to which Lizzie asks Ramone why he brought him up.
* DirtyOldWoman: Lizzie is an old Model T who delights in very bad comedy, slapping stickers onto the rears of male cars.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Stanley Steamer]]
[[quoteright:100:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Stanley_2_820.png]]
The late founder of Radiator Springs and husband to Lizzie. A statue of him stands outside the town's firehouse.
----
* HappilyMarried: To Lizzie. Before he died, at least.
* JumpScare: One of the many things when Lightning wrecks havoc in Radiator Springs, is that Stanley's statue rockets up and lands in front of the scene from Lightning's first person perspective complete with a ScareChord.
* OurFounder: For Radiator Springs.
%%* PosthumousCharacter
[[/folder]]
!!Piston Cup racers and authority
[[folder:Mack]]
[[quoteright:175:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mack_2_3340.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' [[Creator/PixarRegulars John Ratzenberger]]
A Mack Superliner truck who is Lightning's transport and the closest thing he has to a friend.
----
* GentleGiant: A gigantic red semi-truck and also a NiceGuy.
* NiceHat: The large sail on his roof resembles a trucker cap.
* OnlyFriend: Was this to Lightning prior to his redemption.
* VitriolicBestFriends: With Lightning.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Strip "The King" Weathers]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Strip_Weathers_3_1724.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Richard Petty
A 1969 Plymouth Superbird, Strip Weather, better known as "The King", is the golden boy of Dinoco. He is participating in his last championship before retiring.
----
* BlueIsHeroic: He is light blue, and the nicest of the three leaders.
* CoolOldGuy: Not as old as [[spoiler:Doc Hudson]], but he has been in the race scene for some time and is about to retire, and gives some advice to the aspiring champion Lightning not to be so greedy and listen to his team.
* DoomedMoralVictor: [[spoiler:Although he doesn't die, he becomes severely injured by a crash caused by Chick Hicks during the final lap of the tie-breaker race]].
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine.
* HistoryRepeats: [[spoiler:His crash at the end mirrors Doc's crash. However, unlike Doc, he had someone - Lightning - to help him finish his last race.]]
* InkSuitActor: The King's model is based on Richard Petty's 1970 Plymouth Superbird.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Chick Hicks]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Chick_Hicks_3_3216.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/MichaelKeaton
Lightning's obnoxious rival who is AlwaysSecondBest to the King. He is a green 1986 Buick Regal racing car.
----
* AlwaysSecondBest: Was this to The King. And when Lightning breaks onto the scene, he slips back into Always ''Third'' Best.
* AppropriatedAppellation: His nickname of "Thunder" comes from him always placing after Lightning [=McQueen=]. After his surge in popularity after [=McQueen=]'s disappearance however, he takes the nickname and ''runs with it.''
* TheBadGuyWins: Played with. While he does win the race and Piston Cup by ramming into the King and knocking him off the track, damaging him badly (in a very similar fashion to what happened with Doc years ago) he receives absolutely no praise or cheering after his victory, but rather a series of boos, his own merchandise being pelted at him and likely a permanently ruined reputation as a racecar.
* BigBad: Of the first film. He competes with The King and Lightning to be Dinoco's new face and in the last race [[spoiler:he pushes The King off the tracks causing a devastating accident similar to Doc Hudson's]].
* BorrowedCatchphrase: "Ka-chicka! Ka-chicka!" (Lightning: [[HeyThatsMyLine Hey, that's ''MY bit!!'']])
* ClassicVillain: Chick is the dirtiest racer of the Piston Cup.
* DudeWheresMyReward: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]: Even though he wins the Piston Cup, it isn't accompanied by a cheering crowd; [[JustifiedTrope justified]] when the audience decides to boo him instead for shoving Strip Weathers off the track and displaying poor sportsmanship.
* EvilCounterpart: To Lightning [=McQueen=]. Chick starts off as a more extreme version of [=McQueen=], but eventually becomes this after Lightning undergoes CharacterDevelopment.
* GloryDays: Slightly touched upon in the third movie, he always has his Piston Cup trophy by his side during his show just to let the audience know he won it...despite the fact that he was known to have done it through dirty means.
* GreenEyedMonster: Chick is deeply envious of The King's status as Dinoco's golden boy. Plus he's green to boot.
* {{Jerkass}}: Even more than Lightning was at first due to him being the BigBad of the first film. He caused The King's wreck. By the third movie, he's somehow was able to gain his own sports talk show where he does nothing but rip into Lighitng for his continued loses against Storm.
* MeaninglessVillainVictory: He [[spoiler: wins the Piston Cup only because Lightning forfeited his own chance, stopping just short of the finish line to go back and help The King after Chick rammed him off the track. This, combined with his gloating, results in him being denied the opportunity to represent Dinoco and booed off the stage at the cup presentation, rendering his victory hollow and meaningless.]]
* PyrrhicVillainy: [[spoiler:He wins the Piston Cup, but only because he caused The King to crash horribly and Lightning went back to help him. Chick doesn't get his Dinoco sponsor like he dreamed and is booed off the stage at the cup presentation.]]
* ShadowArchetype: To Lightning [=McQueen=]. While [=McQueen=] gradually becomes a better racecar, Chick Hicks only gets worse.
* ShoddyKnockoffProduct: Becomes this after Lightning vanishes, not only ripping off his trademark Lightning Bolt sticker with a Thunderbolt sticker but also knocking off [=McQueen=]'s "Ka-chow!" CatchPhrase with a much more forced "Ka-chicka!"
%%* SmugSnake
* UnnecessaryRoughness: He causes a massive thirty-car pileup in the opening to try and shake [=McQueen=], and later [[spoiler:causes The King to crash in the tie-breaker match.]]
* VillainExitStageLeft: Angrily runs offstage when the press boos him for making The King crash on purpose.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Not even mentioned in the sequel, despite the presence of a gigantic racing tournament which he'd no doubt have interest in, though it's entirely possible the entire debacle during the Piston Cup caused his career to tank.
** The third movie showcases him where he runs a sports talk show.
[[/folder]]
!!Others
[[folder:The Delinquent Road Hazards (Boost, Wingo, DJ, and Snot Rod)]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DRH_2_5905.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Jonas Rivera (Boost), EJ Holowicki (DJ), Adrian Ochoa (Wingo) & Lou Romano (Snot Rod)
A quartet of troublemaking cars who distract Mack, causing Lightning to roll out of the back of his trailer and get lost.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: Of the four, only Boost's name is never mentioned on-screen.
* CharacterTic: Whenever Snot Rod sneezes, his exhaust pipes gush up and he rockets forward uncontrollably.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: DJ's full name is Devon Montegomery Johnston the Third.
* LaserGuidedKarma: During the end credits, they make the mistake of speeding in Radiator Springs, and they are forced to use Bessy as a result.
* MeaningfulName:
** '''Boost''' runs on boost tanks, and his liscence plate says he's from "Nitropolis".
** '''DJ''' likes to play music on his built-in system.
** '''Wingo'' has an upturned spoiler that looks like a wing.
** '''Snot Rod''' has a habit of sneezing from time to time.
* RiceBurner: Three of them have utterly ridiculous-looking spoilers, and Snot Rod has large exhaust pipes. They also have garish paint schemes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tractors, Frank and Vroomaroundus Bugus]]
The animals of the ''Cars'' world. Tractors stand in for cows, being rather docile creatures who Mater likes to scare via tractor tipping. Frank is a combine harvester who resembles a bull. The Vroomaroundus Bugus are small insects resembling Volkswagen Beetles.
%%* CanisLatinicus
%%* EverythingsBetterWithCows
%%* FurryConfusion
* StealthPun: Cow Tipping, Mater's favorite prank to play.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Mia and Tia]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mia_And_Tia_2_8915.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Lindsey Collins (Mia) & Elissa Knight (Tia)
A pair of twin Mazda Miatas who are huge fans of Lightning.
----
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When Lightning raced past them, they started blinking their headlights. They ''[[{{Pun}} flashed]]'' him.
* ImYourBiggestFan: To [=McQueen=]. They briefly followed Chick when [=McQueen=] disappeared, but switch back by the end. They're also this to Mater in the [[WesternAnimation/PixarShorts Tall Tales]], for some reason.
%%* SingleMindedTwins
* ThemeTwinNaming: They're named after their model, the Mazda Miata.
* ValleyGirl: Both of them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Minny and Van]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Minny_and_Van_4163.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Edie [=McClurg=] (Minny) & Richard Kind (Van)
A married couple who wander into Radiator Springs whilst looking for the freeway, but are terrified by the clingy and pushy townsfolk. Van is a Ford Winstar and Minny is a Dodge Caravan.
----
* TheCameo: They appear at the end of the second film in Radiator Springs, listening to Mater's spy adventure in Europe.
* DirectionlessDriver: Van refuses to ask for directions while the two of them are looking for an on-ramp, claiming that he can use the GPS. Unsurprisingly, they end up getting lost in the desert.
%%* HappilyMarried
%%* MinnesotaNice
* PunnyName: They are both ''mini-vans''.
* SanitySlippage: In TheStinger [[spoiler:Van has essentially lost his mind in the desert, convinced he can find the interstate]]. In the sequel, [[UnexplainedRecovery he's fine again]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:[=RustEze=] Pit Crew Members, Sponsors, and Associates]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Tom & Ray Magliozzi (Clink & Clunk), Andrew Stanton (Fred), Mike Nelson (''Not'' Chuck)
Lightning's sponsors who got him his big break.
----
* AbhorrentAdmirer: Fred. Lightning is disgusted with his dirty appearance and fanboyish manners.
* AccidentalMisnaming: My name is not Chuck!
* ImYourBiggestFan: Fred.
[[/folder]]
Characters of the ''Franchise/{{Cars}}'' franchise introduced in the original 2006 film itself.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
!!Radiator Springs
[[folder:Lightning [=McQueen=]]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lightning_McQueen_4_5819.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[CatchPhrase Ka-chow!]]"'']]
->'''Voiced by:''' Owen Wilson (Films), Keith Ferguson (TV and other media)
->''"The racing is the reward, not the stuff!"''
A young, ambitious but arrogant, self-centered race car who wants to win the Piston Cup. His desire to be the first to California leads him getting lost and stranded in Radiator Springs. However, his time with the eccentric townsfolk open his eyes to his own demeanour and learns to slow down in life, turning him into a better person. In ''Cars 2'', he participates in the World Grand Prix. Unlike most of the other characters in the franchise, [=McQueen=] is not based on any one real world design, instead incorporating design features from many different sports and racing cars.
----
* TheAce: A champion in the racing world.
* AffectionateNickname: "Stickers" by Sally.
* AlliterativeName: His real first name is [[spoiler:'''M'''onty.]]
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: In ''Cars 3''. First Jackson Storm, then [[spoiler: Cruz Ramirez]].
* AwesomeMcCoolname: '''Lightning''' [=McQueen=].
* TheBet: Ends up going through one in ''Cars 3'' - he has to win the Florida 500 or he'll lose his job forever.
* BigNo: He says this in ''Cars 3'' (along with a RapidFireNo) as he struggles to catch up to Jackson; notably the last thing he says before his iconic crash.
* BuffySpeak: "I think you're forgetting the insulting part of that insult."
* ButtMonkey: In ''Mater's Tall Tales''. It is rare for one to not involve something bad happening to him. Though he does have his moments in the films as well.
* {{Catchphrase}}:
** "Ka-chow!"
** "Speed...I am speed."
* CharacterDevelopment: He goes from a selfish {{Jerkass}} to a more sympathetic JerkWithAHeartOfGold in the first movie. [[spoiler: Come the third, not only is he still the warmhearted racing legend of today, he is also a wise and proud teacher just like Doc was.]]
* CharacterTic: In the first film, he often sticks his tongue out when thinking of something.
* CostumeEvolution: As of ''Cars 2'', his sticker decal headlights and taillights are removed and replaced with actual working ones.
%%* DeadpanSnarker: He has his moments, especially pre-HeelFaceTurn toward the Radiator Springs folk.
* DecoyProtagonist:
** Becomes this throughout ''Cars 2'' due to Mater taking up most of the story.
** The ''Cars 3'' advertisements play up his return to the role of protagonist, but [[spoiler: it's, ultimately, Cruz Ramirez's rise to glory as a racer. Though he does play a pivotal part in it]].
* TheDeterminator: Being a racer, he gets this feeling ''a lot'', especially before his HeelFaceTurn when he skips a pit stop and refuses a tire change as an excuse to remain in the lead.
* DueToTheDead: [[spoiler: At the end of ''Car 3'', he paints himself up in Hudson's colors to commemorate him.]]
* DudeWheresMyRespect: In ''Cars 3'', he gets a lot of guff about his age from Doc's old racing friends who are ironically decades older then him. And, most if not ''all'' of the next gen racers especially Storm, have little to no respect for him as a racer. Also, while she is a fan of his, Cruz unintentionally insults [=McQueen=] about his age by calling him her "senior project". For the most part, his reaction ranges from mild annoyance to agitation.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: In the tie in book; Cars Origins: Struck by Lightning, his actual name is [[spoiler: Monty [=McQueen=]]]. He changed it once he became a rookie. Even Sarge comments the name ''Lightning'' is more fitting.
* EmergingFromTheShadows: How we first meet him in the first film.
* EtTuBrute: He felt this way after [[spoiler:Mater causes him to lose the first race in the World Grand Prix.]]
* FishOutOfWater: After he first enters Radiator Springs.
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine and choleric.
* FriendlessBackground: He didn't have any friends other than Mack prior to his HeelFaceTurn in the first film, as evidenced by his downcast expression after he ends his call with Harv.
* GratuitousRap: He uses Cruz's workout song to his adventage to get her to accept his apology and makes up his own rap out of it.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: In-universe, Lightning seems to be very popular in Japan.
* TheHero: Of the first film and entire franchise.
* HeelFaceTurn: He undergoes this throughout the first movie, finally becoming a good sport at the end.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Mater, even calling Mater his best friend at the end of the first film.
%%* HonorBeforeReason: At the end.
* IcyBlueEyes: Goes with how he was originally, when he was obnoxious and vain.
* InkSuitActor: Has a few features inherited from Owen Wilson's face, most notably the eye color.
* InnocentBlueEyes: Changes to these after his HeelFaceTurn, realizing there's much more to racing than winning and friendship is more important than just that.
* InsufferableGenius: He does grow out of the jerkass attitude, but his attitude does originally stem from the fact that he ''is'' a talented racer.
* ItsAllAboutMe: The old him acted this way.
* {{Jerkass}}: Starts out as this, an egotistical jerk who's only concerned with winning.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He becomes nice and likable by the end of the first movie. In ''Cars 2'', he harshly calls out Mater for his immature behavior throughout the movie, but still considers him his best friend. And in ''Cars 3'', [[spoiler: he goes on a tirade about how Cruz Ramirez is slowing him down and how she doesn't understand what is at stake for him since she is just a trainer. He then makes up for it later, when he takes her to Thomasville to find Doc Hudson's crew chief, Smokey.]]
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: His bright red coloring probably helped him on his rise to fame.
* LivingLegend: He's won seven Piston Cups in a row, making him this.
* MeaningfulName: "Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning."
* MentorArchetype: [[spoiler: Becomes Cruz's teacher at the end of ''Cars 3'' after she helps him save his job.]]
* NearDeathExperience: So far, Lightning has experienced at least one of these in each film:
** In the first film, he crashes into a cactus patch twice, with a saguaro falling on him the second time, while attempting to make the sharp turn at Willy's Butte, but survived. He was also almost murdered by Frank.
** In the second film, he was planned to be exploded by a bomb, but it was put in Mater instead. The lemons also tried to make him explode with the camera, but his Allinol gas was switched with Filmore's organic fuel so he was not affected.
** In the third film, he lost control while trying to catch up to Jackson and suffered a violent crash, but survived afterwards. He was also almost killed by Miss Fritter in the Demolition Derby.
* NiceGuy: As he becomes selfless and friendly at the end of ''Cars''. His kind nature becomes more emphasised in "Cars 3" when he discovers that [[spoiler: he won't be able to win against Storm no matter how much he trains hard for and he discovers Cruz's potential as a racer and decides to give up his racing place selflessly for Cruz to replace him and be a coach for her to successfully win against Storm in the Florida season race.]]
* TheNicknamer: He has named his tires "Lefty", "Righty", "Backy", and "Backy Junior".
* OfficialCouple: With Sally.
* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: In the third film, he faces Jackson Storm, a newcomer to the Piston Cup racing series who is arrogant and narcissistic, exactly how he was originally.
* OutOfFocus: In the sequel, a result of Mater taking the spotlight. He regains it in the third movie.
* PassingTheTorch: [[spoiler: Ultimately allows Cruz to finish the Florida race for him under his number. When she wins, his racing career is saved, and [[MentorArchetype he becomes her personal coach.]]]]
* RedIsHeroic: He is red, and the hero of the series.
* ReluctantRetiree: His conflict throughout ''Cars 3'', following a rather horrible crash similar to Doc's and The King's. [[spoiler: Thanks to Cruz taking his place in the final race and finishing it for him, they both share the victory and he doesn't have to retire.]]
* RetiredBadass: Averted. [[spoiler: Despite Cruz winning the race for him and allowing him to continue racing if he wanted. He decides his talents would be better spent becoming a coach and teaching the new generation of racers the tricks of the trade.]]
%%* SmugSuper: Initially.
* SupportingProtagonist: In the sequel.
* SweetHomeAlabama: Often he speaks with a light southern twang in his voice (Like his voice actor, which fades in an out time to time), hinting he's from the southern US, most likely Texas. The song "Real Gone" from the first film has the line "I was born in the south", alluding to this.
* TrashTalk: "I eat losers for breakfast!"
* TookALevelInKindness: His time in Radiator Springs really improved his demeanor.
* VagueAge: In ''Cars 3'', [=McQueen=] is teased about his age a lot, though it's never explicitly said how old he is. Brian Fee implies in an interview that Lightning is in his mid to late 40s.
* VitriolicBestFriends: With Mack and Mater in Cars 1 and 2. And Cal Weathers, Bobby Swift, and Cruz Ramirez in Cars 3.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sir Towbert "Tow" Mater]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mater_4_7146.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/LarryTheCableGuy
A rusty 1951 International Harvester tow truck. Mater comes off as a simple-minded stereotypical Southern hick, but he is a GeniusDitz, knowing a lot about engines, and can drive backwards using his rear view mirrors. He becomes Lightning's best friend and crew chief in ''Cars 2'', where he is mistaken for a spy by Finn [=McMissile=].
----
* {{Adorkable}}: He's so adorable and he's quite the dork.
* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler: In ''Cars 2'', after discovering that others think that he is just clueless and distracting]].
* BreakoutCharacter: He has spun off into his own series of shorts, and even managed to become the main character of the sequel.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He comes off as slow-witted and silly.
* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: In ''Cars'', the main character is Lightning, a HotBlooded racer who tries to get over his selfishness by spending time in a remote town called Radiator Springs. In ''Cars 2'', the main character is Lightning's friend Mater, a ditzy tow truck who is far more sensitive then Lightning and gets involved in a spy mission.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: The sequel definitely elevates him to this.
%%* {{Eagleland}}: Mater is viewed as a mix of Types 1 and 2 by foreign cars.
* FlyingCar: [[spoiler: Mater is able to fly by using his rocket boosters together with his parachute.]]
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine.
* FragileFlower: He gets very upset over every little thing. He's a very sensitive person and there were signs that he got upset in the first film but he showed more emotions in the second film.
* GeniusDitz: Despite seeming rather simple minded, he has very broad knowledge of car parts and engines and can identify any engine at a glance.
* GoodIsNotDumb: Being a GeniusDitz, [[spoiler:he manages to figure out Axlerod's involvement with the Lemons and his plot to discredit alternative fuel sources, forcing Axlerod to disarm the bomb.]]
* GreenEyes: Has emerald-green eyes which represent his youthful attitude and humorous hillbilly outlook.
* IWasQuiteALooker: During the "Our Town" sequence that shows Radiator Spring in the past glory days, Mater is shown to had cleaner and finer paintjob.
* IdiotSavant: He's a savant like Rain Man, but mostly in ''Cars 2''.
* InkSuitActor: Kinda has a few elements of his voice actor's face, even sharing a famous catchphrase as well.
* TheHero: Of the sequel.
* KidAppealCharacter: He is mostly adored by kids of all ages. Kids just love him because he's so lovable.
* KindheartedSimpleton: Mater is the most sweet-natured and loyal car in the franchise.
* {{Knighting}}: [[spoiler:By the Queen of England herself.]]
* LastNameBasis: He almost always goes by his last name, Mater, throughout the films. His first name is actually Towbert or Tow for short.
* ManChild: Mater literally is a young kid trapped in an adult man's body. He has the mental/emotional capacity of a 7 year old child, even though he's an adult.
* MistakenForSpies: By Holley and Finn, partially as a result of his fanciful storytelling. Mainly done because their ''true'' contact slipped the information on him, and due to his profession he knew the reconnection phrase.
* NiceGuy: Very kind-hearted, cheerful, and an incredibly loyal friend.
* ThePollyanna: Usually has an optimistic and positive attitude.
* SouthernFriedGenius: Mater knows everything about engines and engine parts, but in an idiot savant kind of way.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: In the sequel, where he's crucial to the plot and even gets top billing.
* VitriolicBestFriends: With Lightning.
* UnreliableNarrator: Of his own "Tall Tales" series.
* WhyAmITicking: [[spoiler:The Lemons plant a time bomb in his air filter as a backup plan to kill Lightning.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Doc Hudson/Fabulous Hudson Hornet]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Doc_Hudson_3_5742.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/PaulNewman (Film), Creator/CoreyBurton (Video Games)
A 1951 Hudson Hornet, Doc Hudson is Radiator Springs' medical doctor and judge. He sentences Lightning to fix the town's road after destroying it. He hides his past from his friends, which Lightning accidentally discovers, which Doc does not like one bit.
----
* CharacterDeath: He died some time before the start of the second movie. He has a hall of fame dedicated to him.
* CoolOldGuy: Despite being cold towards Lightning, he's actually a cool judge, doctor and [[spoiler:former racing champion and helps Lightning during the climax in the first film]].
* DeadpanSnarker: He has some touches of this. For example, after Lightning crashes into the cacti:
-->'''Doc:''' Was that floatin' like a Cadillac or stingin' like a Beamer? I'm confused.
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic and choleric.
* HangingJudge: Judging from his introductory speech.
* ForYourOwnGood: How he justifies selling out Lightning to the Piston Cup officials. Sally, Mater, and the rest of the town don't take it well.
* ICouldaBeenAContender: Sort of. [[spoiler:Doc did have a very successful career, holding the record for most wins in a single season. But after his wreck in '54, instead of returning to a hero's welcome he was labeled finished and replaced with the next rookie in line.]]
* InkSuitActor: Believe it or not, his features were inspired by his voice actor's face.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Sally accuses him of this when he alerts the Piston Cup officials to pick up Lightning.
%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
* LivingLegend: [[spoiler:Even after disappearing from the race scene after his nasty accident and the following mistreatment from his sponsors, everyone realized whom he was at the final race.]]
%%* NotSoDifferent: From Lightning.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Even though Doc Hudson prefers not to discuss his racing past, he alerts the media to Lightning's whereabouts after he leaves town, not wanting to be hounded by the paparazzi, and he even shows up at the Piston Cup race in his old racing colors as the head of Lightning Mcqueen's pit crew to lend his support.
* RetiredBadass: He was forced to retire from racing for good following his crash in '54, but still has the skills within to help Lightning.
* TricksterMentor: A version of this for Lightning towards his racing career.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sally Carrera]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sally_Carrera_3_5.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Don't fear failure. Be afraid of not having the chance, you have the chance!"'']]
->'''Voiced by:''' Bonnie Hunt
A Porsche 911 Carrera, Sally is an Los Angeles attorney who grew tired of her life in the big city and ended up in Radiator Springs. She becomes the town attorney and runs the Cozy Cone Motel. She longs to see the town restored to its former glory, and becomes Lightning's girlfriend.
----
* AllThereInTheScript: Her last name "Carrera" is not stated in the animation so far.
* EmbarrassingTattoo: A [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar tramp]] [[CrowningMomentOfFunny stamp!]]
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Phlegmatic.
* HelloAttorney: Lightning is immediately smitten when he sees her.
* NiceGirl: Sally is nice, friendly, pleasant, and kind to others.
* TheNicknamer: She calls Lightning "Stickers", referring to the various decals on his body. A few times throughout ''Cars 3'', she accidentally calls him "Stinky" due to his grey undercoat, only to correct herself.
* TrueBlueFemininity: She is light blue, representing her feminine nature.
* OfficialCouple: With Lightning.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fillmore]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Fillmore_3_9470.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/GeorgeCarlin (''Cars''), Lloyd Sherr (''Cars 2'' onward)
A Volkswagen Microbus, a NewAgeRetroHippie who sells organic fuel. Has a fiery friendship with Sarge.
----
* ActualPacifist: Goes with his hippie nature. More specifically, [[spoiler:he, along with Sally, were the only ones not to participate in the Radiator Springs vs. Lemon Gangs in London.]]
* NewAgeRetroHippie: Shaped like the hippies' signature vehicle, sells organic food and speaks with a calm ''duuude'' voice.
%%* TheStoner
* VerbalTic: He often ends sentences with "man", man.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Sarge.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sarge]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sarge_3_1927.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Paul Dooley
A 1951 Willys MB Jeep, Sarge is Fillmore's best friend and neighbour. He runs a surplus store.
----
* DrillSergeantNasty: Sarge does this during the end credits montage when running a boot camp for pampered [=SUVs=].
-->"A-TEN-SHUN! Kiss the pavement ''goodbye'', gentlemen! When I'm finished with you, you'll have mud in places you didn't know you '''had'''!"
-->"Yo, I never been off road!"
** Funnier considering that [[HummerDinger the complaining SUV is a Hummer - an off-road gas-guzzler known for being more commonly used for suburban driving.]]
* MeaningfulName: He's a jeep with a camouflage paint job who acts and sounds like a drill sergeant. He also plays "Reveille" every morning, which is almost drowned out by Fillmore's music.
* NoIndoorVoice: Often speaks like this.
* ProperlyParanoid: [[spoiler: He greatly distrusts Axlerod and switched out Lightning's Allinol with Fillmore's organic fuel. This is what actually saves Lightning from being killed later on.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Fillmore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Luigi and Guido]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Luigi__Guido_5595.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/TonyShalhoub (Luigi) & Guido Quaroni (Guido)
An Italian Fiat 500 and Isetta-based forklift. Guido and Luigi run Luigi's Casa Dell Tires, which has a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa made from tires. Luigi is a big fan of race cars, particularly Ferraris. Guido only speaks in Italian, and can change tires in seconds, wanting to perform a pit stop on Lightning during his time in town.
----
* AscendedExtra: Secondary characters throughout the movies, but in ''Cars 3'', they get a more prominent role as the only Radiator Springs citizens who accompany McQueen on his journey.
* BilingualBonus: Pretty much everything Guido says, seeing as how he can only speak Italian.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Guido is pretty silly, but his tire changing skills are something to behold.
* ChasteToons: Luigi's aunt and uncle (see below).
* FanBoy: Luigi's a hard core Tifosi and Michael Schumacher supporter. [[spoiler:He gets to meet Schumacher and gush all over him at the end of the film]]
* {{Keet}}: Guido especially, but both of them count.
* GratuitousItalian: Both of them, but Guido exclusively speaks in Italian.
* MrFixIt: Guido. A very fast one too, much to the Chick's forklifts' amusement.
* ThirdPersonPerson: "Luigi know what you want."
* ThoseTwoGuys: Luigi and Guido are the Italian mechanic version.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Flo]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Flo_2_5823.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Jenifer Lewis
Flo is the wife of Ramone, and is manager of Flo's V-8 Cafe gas diner. Her design is a stock 1950s show car.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: A deleted scene revealed Flo was a Motorama showcar, and came to Radiator Springs during a tour, falling in love with Ramone after he refused to alter her chassis out of admiration.
* HappilyMarried: To Ramone.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ramone]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ramone_3_8398.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' [[Creator/CheechAndChong Cheech Marin]]
Radiator Springs' body artist and husband to Flo, Ramone is a 1959 Chevrolet Impala. He is very proud of his art deco, usually altering his paint job in every new scene.
----
* HappilyMarried: To Flo.
* HotPaintJob: He's fond of giving these, as well as usually sporting one himself.
* PimpedOutCar: Aside from his numerous paint jobs, he possesses impressive hydraulics as well.
* ThirdPersonPerson: Often speaks like this.
* UnlimitedWardrobe: Ramone's got a different paint job in almost every other scene.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Red]]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Red_3_1130.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' [[Creator/PixarRegulars Joe Ranft]] (''Cars'')
A gentle fire truck. He is not one for words, is quite shy, and very fond of the plants in Radiator Springs.
----
* CryCute: He cries twice in the first film. Once after Lightning insults him and the other when [[spoiler:he thinks that Lightning has left Radiator Springs]].
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic.
* GentleGiant: He's the largest vehicle, but he also has the biggest heart.
* ShrinkingViolet: He's very shy when it comes to meeting new cars. In fact, he hid from Lightning during an attempt at a conversation.
* TheVoiceless: [[TheQuietOne He almost never speaks onscreen to begin with]], but after the death of his actor he becomes this in the sequel.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sheriff]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sheriff_3_2175.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Michael Wallis
Sheriff of Radiator Springs, a 1949 Mercury Eight police car.
----
%%* ByTheBookCop
%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric.
* GenerationXerox: According to a guidebook on the blu-ray version, his entire family were cops.
* InkSuitActor: He looks like a car-ified version of his voice actor dead-on, especially the mustache-sequel grille.
* NoIndoorVoice: Hence being the police officer, he has his moments.
* TheSheriff: Sheriff of Radiator Springs.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Lizzie]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lizzie_2_7853.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Katherine Helmond
An elderly 1923 Ford Model T coupe, Lizzie is the widow of the town's founder Stanley. She runs Radiator Springs Curio, which sells car souveneirs and accessories.
----
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: A bit of one, presumably due to age. Refers to the television as the radio and after mentioning Big Al in the courtroom, Ramone points out he left years ago, to which Lizzie asks Ramone why he brought him up.
* DirtyOldWoman: Lizzie is an old Model T who delights in very bad comedy, slapping stickers onto the rears of male cars.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Stanley Steamer]]
[[quoteright:100:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Stanley_2_820.png]]
The late founder of Radiator Springs and husband to Lizzie. A statue of him stands outside the town's firehouse.
----
* HappilyMarried: To Lizzie. Before he died, at least.
* JumpScare: One of the many things when Lightning wrecks havoc in Radiator Springs, is that Stanley's statue rockets up and lands in front of the scene from Lightning's first person perspective complete with a ScareChord.
* OurFounder: For Radiator Springs.
%%* PosthumousCharacter
[[/folder]]
!!Piston Cup racers and authority
[[folder:Mack]]
[[quoteright:175:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mack_2_3340.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' [[Creator/PixarRegulars John Ratzenberger]]
A Mack Superliner truck who is Lightning's transport and the closest thing he has to a friend.
----
* GentleGiant: A gigantic red semi-truck and also a NiceGuy.
* NiceHat: The large sail on his roof resembles a trucker cap.
* OnlyFriend: Was this to Lightning prior to his redemption.
* VitriolicBestFriends: With Lightning.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Strip "The King" Weathers]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Strip_Weathers_3_1724.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Richard Petty
A 1969 Plymouth Superbird, Strip Weather, better known as "The King", is the golden boy of Dinoco. He is participating in his last championship before retiring.
----
* BlueIsHeroic: He is light blue, and the nicest of the three leaders.
* CoolOldGuy: Not as old as [[spoiler:Doc Hudson]], but he has been in the race scene for some time and is about to retire, and gives some advice to the aspiring champion Lightning not to be so greedy and listen to his team.
* DoomedMoralVictor: [[spoiler:Although he doesn't die, he becomes severely injured by a crash caused by Chick Hicks during the final lap of the tie-breaker race]].
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine.
* HistoryRepeats: [[spoiler:His crash at the end mirrors Doc's crash. However, unlike Doc, he had someone - Lightning - to help him finish his last race.]]
* InkSuitActor: The King's model is based on Richard Petty's 1970 Plymouth Superbird.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Chick Hicks]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Chick_Hicks_3_3216.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/MichaelKeaton
Lightning's obnoxious rival who is AlwaysSecondBest to the King. He is a green 1986 Buick Regal racing car.
----
* AlwaysSecondBest: Was this to The King. And when Lightning breaks onto the scene, he slips back into Always ''Third'' Best.
* AppropriatedAppellation: His nickname of "Thunder" comes from him always placing after Lightning [=McQueen=]. After his surge in popularity after [=McQueen=]'s disappearance however, he takes the nickname and ''runs with it.''
* TheBadGuyWins: Played with. While he does win the race and Piston Cup by ramming into the King and knocking him off the track, damaging him badly (in a very similar fashion to what happened with Doc years ago) he receives absolutely no praise or cheering after his victory, but rather a series of boos, his own merchandise being pelted at him and likely a permanently ruined reputation as a racecar.
* BigBad: Of the first film. He competes with The King and Lightning to be Dinoco's new face and in the last race [[spoiler:he pushes The King off the tracks causing a devastating accident similar to Doc Hudson's]].
* BorrowedCatchphrase: "Ka-chicka! Ka-chicka!" (Lightning: [[HeyThatsMyLine Hey, that's ''MY bit!!'']])
* ClassicVillain: Chick is the dirtiest racer of the Piston Cup.
* DudeWheresMyReward: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]: Even though he wins the Piston Cup, it isn't accompanied by a cheering crowd; [[JustifiedTrope justified]] when the audience decides to boo him instead for shoving Strip Weathers off the track and displaying poor sportsmanship.
* EvilCounterpart: To Lightning [=McQueen=]. Chick starts off as a more extreme version of [=McQueen=], but eventually becomes this after Lightning undergoes CharacterDevelopment.
* GloryDays: Slightly touched upon in the third movie, he always has his Piston Cup trophy by his side during his show just to let the audience know he won it...despite the fact that he was known to have done it through dirty means.
* GreenEyedMonster: Chick is deeply envious of The King's status as Dinoco's golden boy. Plus he's green to boot.
* {{Jerkass}}: Even more than Lightning was at first due to him being the BigBad of the first film. He caused The King's wreck. By the third movie, he's somehow was able to gain his own sports talk show where he does nothing but rip into Lighitng for his continued loses against Storm.
* MeaninglessVillainVictory: He [[spoiler: wins the Piston Cup only because Lightning forfeited his own chance, stopping just short of the finish line to go back and help The King after Chick rammed him off the track. This, combined with his gloating, results in him being denied the opportunity to represent Dinoco and booed off the stage at the cup presentation, rendering his victory hollow and meaningless.]]
* PyrrhicVillainy: [[spoiler:He wins the Piston Cup, but only because he caused The King to crash horribly and Lightning went back to help him. Chick doesn't get his Dinoco sponsor like he dreamed and is booed off the stage at the cup presentation.]]
* ShadowArchetype: To Lightning [=McQueen=]. While [=McQueen=] gradually becomes a better racecar, Chick Hicks only gets worse.
* ShoddyKnockoffProduct: Becomes this after Lightning vanishes, not only ripping off his trademark Lightning Bolt sticker with a Thunderbolt sticker but also knocking off [=McQueen=]'s "Ka-chow!" CatchPhrase with a much more forced "Ka-chicka!"
%%* SmugSnake
* UnnecessaryRoughness: He causes a massive thirty-car pileup in the opening to try and shake [=McQueen=], and later [[spoiler:causes The King to crash in the tie-breaker match.]]
* VillainExitStageLeft: Angrily runs offstage when the press boos him for making The King crash on purpose.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Not even mentioned in the sequel, despite the presence of a gigantic racing tournament which he'd no doubt have interest in, though it's entirely possible the entire debacle during the Piston Cup caused his career to tank.
** The third movie showcases him where he runs a sports talk show.
[[/folder]]
!!Others
[[folder:The Delinquent Road Hazards (Boost, Wingo, DJ, and Snot Rod)]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DRH_2_5905.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Jonas Rivera (Boost), EJ Holowicki (DJ), Adrian Ochoa (Wingo) & Lou Romano (Snot Rod)
A quartet of troublemaking cars who distract Mack, causing Lightning to roll out of the back of his trailer and get lost.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: Of the four, only Boost's name is never mentioned on-screen.
* CharacterTic: Whenever Snot Rod sneezes, his exhaust pipes gush up and he rockets forward uncontrollably.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: DJ's full name is Devon Montegomery Johnston the Third.
* LaserGuidedKarma: During the end credits, they make the mistake of speeding in Radiator Springs, and they are forced to use Bessy as a result.
* MeaningfulName:
** '''Boost''' runs on boost tanks, and his liscence plate says he's from "Nitropolis".
** '''DJ''' likes to play music on his built-in system.
** '''Wingo'' has an upturned spoiler that looks like a wing.
** '''Snot Rod''' has a habit of sneezing from time to time.
* RiceBurner: Three of them have utterly ridiculous-looking spoilers, and Snot Rod has large exhaust pipes. They also have garish paint schemes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tractors, Frank and Vroomaroundus Bugus]]
The animals of the ''Cars'' world. Tractors stand in for cows, being rather docile creatures who Mater likes to scare via tractor tipping. Frank is a combine harvester who resembles a bull. The Vroomaroundus Bugus are small insects resembling Volkswagen Beetles.
%%* CanisLatinicus
%%* EverythingsBetterWithCows
%%* FurryConfusion
* StealthPun: Cow Tipping, Mater's favorite prank to play.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Mia and Tia]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mia_And_Tia_2_8915.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Lindsey Collins (Mia) & Elissa Knight (Tia)
A pair of twin Mazda Miatas who are huge fans of Lightning.
----
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When Lightning raced past them, they started blinking their headlights. They ''[[{{Pun}} flashed]]'' him.
* ImYourBiggestFan: To [=McQueen=]. They briefly followed Chick when [=McQueen=] disappeared, but switch back by the end. They're also this to Mater in the [[WesternAnimation/PixarShorts Tall Tales]], for some reason.
%%* SingleMindedTwins
* ThemeTwinNaming: They're named after their model, the Mazda Miata.
* ValleyGirl: Both of them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Minny and Van]]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Minny_and_Van_4163.png]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Edie [=McClurg=] (Minny) & Richard Kind (Van)
A married couple who wander into Radiator Springs whilst looking for the freeway, but are terrified by the clingy and pushy townsfolk. Van is a Ford Winstar and Minny is a Dodge Caravan.
----
* TheCameo: They appear at the end of the second film in Radiator Springs, listening to Mater's spy adventure in Europe.
* DirectionlessDriver: Van refuses to ask for directions while the two of them are looking for an on-ramp, claiming that he can use the GPS. Unsurprisingly, they end up getting lost in the desert.
%%* HappilyMarried
%%* MinnesotaNice
* PunnyName: They are both ''mini-vans''.
* SanitySlippage: In TheStinger [[spoiler:Van has essentially lost his mind in the desert, convinced he can find the interstate]]. In the sequel, [[UnexplainedRecovery he's fine again]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:[=RustEze=] Pit Crew Members, Sponsors, and Associates]]
->'''Voiced by:''' Tom & Ray Magliozzi (Clink & Clunk), Andrew Stanton (Fred), Mike Nelson (''Not'' Chuck)
Lightning's sponsors who got him his big break.
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* AbhorrentAdmirer: Fred. Lightning is disgusted with his dirty appearance and fanboyish manners.
* AccidentalMisnaming: My name is not Chuck!
* ImYourBiggestFan: Fred.
[[/folder]]
