Coming Soon has a new pic for the upcoming Cars 2.  The film follows Lightning McQueen and Mater as they head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix, to determine the world’s fastest car.  But when Mater gets caught up in a spy mission, his loyalties become divided between that and helping Lightning in the big race.  Apparently there’s a lot of new car characters in this installment.  I still wonder why, of all the excellent Pixar films, this is the first one to get a sequel aside from Toy Story, considering that’s its the least regarded.  I’m still waiting for that Incredibles sequel, man. 

Anyway, for some reason, this image gives me ever so slightly a Road Warrior vibe, with the explosion on the race course.  If the other cars in the race consist of things like a jet engine car and a truck with harpoons, they may have something.  A race car with a hockey mask on the grill or a nutbag car in assless chaps voiced by Vernon Wells would absolutely rule…although I’m not sure how the logistics of the chaps would work.  Cars 2 opens in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on June 24, 2011.  You can click the image to enlarge.