New ‘Cars 3’ concept art introduces new character Cruz Ramirez

in Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Pixar

In about a year we will be back preparing to rev our engines for the third installment of the Cars movie franchise, currently scheduled for release on June 16, 2017.

In the first two installments of the Pixar movies we got to follow Lightning McQueen alongĀ as a rookie racing for the Piston Cup and then later zooming around the globe for the World Grand Prix. In Cars 3, McQueen will need some help to compete in the increasingly high-tech racing world.

Cars 3 director Brian Fee tells us thatā€™s where the new trainer Cruz Ramirez comes in. The sleek, yellow Cruz Ramirez is a young Hispanic female race car who instructs Lightning McQueen.

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Brian Fee spoke to USA Today and had this to say about the new character: ā€œCruz Ramirez is trying to figure out how this old dog can learn some new tricks. Think of where heā€™d be in his career now in real time. (McQueen) is not an old man, but he’s one of the older cars on the circuit with new rookies coming in. People start to wonder and ask when he might retire.ā€

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According to USA Today another addition will be the upstart Jackson Storm.

ā€œJackson Storm is the face of these rookies who have come onto the scene,ā€ says Fee. ā€œAnd McQueen is in a position where his entire racing generation is being pushed out.Ā  But itā€™s too early to be shown the door right now.ā€

Ramirez aims to help him adapt and close the technical gap. The duo prepare in the racing off-season for McQueenā€™s one chance to show heā€™s got the goods in the Florida 500 (the equivalent of the Daytona 500).

ā€œEveryone can relate to feeling like someone is at their heels, that they might be a little outdated in something they used to be very good at, feeling an expiration date. And knowing you need someone to help you get a second chance,” says Fee.

Cars 3 will feature McQueen (Owen Wilson) with his signature look and will bring back familiar characters from Radiator Springs, including tow-truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), girlfriend Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt) and auto body shop owner Ramone (Cheech Marin).

in Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Pixar

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