Lightning McQueen Lightning McQueen is a car from the Cars theme of the same name . He was first released as a DUPLO version in 2010 , but was later remade as a brick - built system car in 2011 . To date , Lightning McQueen has eight designs , both System and DUPLO . Description . To date , LEGO has made 11 variants of Lightning McQueen over the three years since LEGO " Cars " and " Cars 2 " were released . DUPLO " Cars " racing variant . In June 2010 , LEGO made their two first Lightning McQueen cars in DUPLO . One of these was the " Cars " racing design . This variant had two pieces . One was the basic DUPLO " Cars " wheel piece , and the other was the DUPLO Lightning McQueen mold that fits over the wheels . This piece had many markings including a smile , lights , ' 95 ' printed on flames and exhaust pipes on the side panels , ' Rust • eze logo , eyes , and windows among other things . DUPLO Radiator Springs variant . Of the two variants of Lightning McQueen that were made in June 2010 , the second of these was the DUPLO Lightning McQueen Radiator Springs variant . This variant featured McQueen ' s " Cars " Radiator Springs design . This variant had the same basic mold as the racing design , but the Radiator Springs design had different markings . This variant had white - wall tires instead of red , a smile , lights , ' Ka - ciao ' stickers , eyes , windows , exhaust pipes and other side panel printings . System Radiator Springs 1st variant . " Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen didn ’ t care about anything but fame and racing … until he got lost in Radiator Springs and met his new friends ! " – LEGO . com < br > Lightning McQueen ' s first System variants were released in May 2011 . There were many System variants released at this time . The first of these was his Radiator Springs design from 8200 Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen . This variant features many sponsor stickers , red wheels , as well as his other printings – smile , eyes , windows , ' 95 , ' lightning sign , exhaust pipes , and lights . His back tail is hinged up vertically , and he has no backlights , given the make of the tail . System Radiator Springs 2nd variant . " Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen didn ’ t care about anything but fame and racing … until he got lost in Radiator Springs and met his new friends ! " – LEGO . com < br > The second System Radiator Springs variant of Lightning McQueen was released in 8487 Flo ' s V8 Café . While this variant outwards looks the same as the one from 8200 Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen , it is not completely the same . The difference between the two is while the Lightning McQueen from 8200 Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen had light grey 1x4 pieces helping to connect on the side panels , the Lightning McQueen from 8487 Flo ' s V8 Café has dark grey 1x4 pieces . Otherwise , the two Lightning McQueens are the same . System " Cars " racing variant . " With his shiny new red rims , Lightning McQueen is back on the racing circuit and ready to burn rubber . Can he beat the odds and take home the championship ? " – LEGO . com < br > Another of his first System variants is Lightning McQueen ' s " Cars " racing variant . This variant featured an open mouth , ' 95 ' printed on flames on his side panels , exhaust pipes , lights , eyes , and windows . This variant , like the radiator Springs variant , has a hinged back tail , but unlike the Radiator Springs variant , McQueen has markings on his tail . Ultimate Building . One of the first System Variants of McQueen is an " Ultimate Build " , 8484 Ultimate Building Lightning McQueen . For information about this variant , please see the set . 1st System " Cars 2 " racing variant . " Fitted out with golden rims and new body paint , Lightning McQueen is in for the biggest , toughest race of his life ! He ’ ll have to out - drive his rivals all over the world if he wants to win in the World Grand Prix ! " – LEGO . com < br > Lightning McQueen has three " Cars 2 " system variants . The first of these was released in 8423 World Grand Prix Racing Rivalry . This variant has a red 2x8 baseplate with a blue 2x6 baseplate on top , and green 1x2 inside pieces . In this variant , McQueen has a redesigned tail than from his " Cars " variants . Lightning McQueen in this variant has back red lights , a flat 1x4 red brick , with ' World Grand Prix ' printed on the top as his tail . He also has another 1x4 flat red brick on his back , this one printed with ' Powered by Allinol . ' The wheels of this variant are white , rimmed with gold . McQueen ' s side panels are printed with ' 95 ' printed on flames , and exhaust pipes . He has lights , a frowning mouth , ' Hudson Hornet Piston Cup ' printed on his hood , side windows , half - closed eyes , and printings on his roof . 2nd System " Cars 2 " racing variant . " Fitted out with golden rims and new body paint , Lightning McQueen is in for the biggest , toughest race of his life ! He ’ ll have to out - drive his rivals all over the world if he wants to win in the World Grand Prix ! " – LEGO . com < br > The second of Lightning McQueen ' s " Cars 2 " variants released in 8679 Tokyo International Circuit . This variant has a red 2x8 baseplate with a blue 2x6 baseplate on top , and yellow 1x2 inside pieces . All of the three early " Cars 2 " variants have the same printings . 3rd System " Cars 2 " racing variant . " Fitted out with golden rims and new body paint , Lightning McQueen is in for the biggest , toughest race of his life ! He ’ ll have to out - drive his rivals all over the world if he wants to win in the World Grand Prix ! " – LEGO . com < br > The third of Lightning McQueen ' s " Cars 2 " variants released in 8639 Big Bentley Bust Out . This variant has a light grey 2x8 baseplate with a black 2x6 baseplate on top , and green 1x2 inside pieces . All of the three early " Cars 2 " variants have the same printings . DUPLO " Cars 2 " racing variant . In May 2011 , McQueen was also released in his " Cars 2 " DUPLO variant . While the same two molds were used , this variant had different printings . These printing consists of eyes , mouth , windows , ' Hudson Hornet Piston Cup ' , lights , exhaust pipes , light grey / silver , black , and yellow wheels , along with ' 95 ' printed on flames . 4th System " Cars 2 " racing variant . " McQueen is not about to let Francesco steal the victory that is rightfully his . So if Francesco wants to insult him , McQueen is more than ready to get him right back with a bumper sticker of his own ! “ Ka - ciao , Francesco ! ” " – LEGO . com < br > In 2012 , LEGO released a final to - date system Lightning McQueen . This McQueen was a newer " Cars 2 " variant . While it was similar to his older " Cars 2 " variant , there were a few changes made . The wheels in the old variant had gold hubs , whereas the wheels in the newer variant had red hubs . This variant also had a new face expression , the lights are turned on , and he has a plate displaying ' Ka - Ciao , Francesco ! ' at his rear . Lightning McQueen ' s tail in this variant was also built differently to the one from the last variant . Background . Cars < br > < br > In Pixar ' s " Cars " movie , Lighting McQueen , a Piston Cup racecar , had a dream to be the first rookie ever to win a piston cup . He was haughty and stuck up in the beginning of the movie , and didn ' t like his sponsors , and wanting everything to his own way . He competed in the annul Piston Cup race , which , after McQueen refusing numerous times not to get new tires , ended up in a three way tie between him , the present Piston Cup Champion , Mr . The King , and Chick Hicks , another race car . < br > A tiebreaker race was declared , and Lightning McQueen set out to California where the race was to be held . Chick Hicks challenged him to a race to California , and Lightning took it . < br > After being refused by McQueen to take a rest , Lightning ' s hauler , Mack , drifted off to sleep , and veered to the side of the road . The bumping around opened the door of Mack ' s trailer , where McQueen was , and Lightning accidentally fell out without Mack noticing . Lighting woke up and raced after Mack , but he followed the wrong truck , and after realizing his error , found out that he was lost . He decided to go to California by himself , and set out . < br > As he raced along , he came to Radiator Springs , where the local police car , Sheriff , tried to pull him over . Sheriff was an old car , and because he wasn ' t used to rushing around a lot , given that Radiator Springs was hardly ever visited by anyone , Sheriff got engine trouble . Lightning McQueen thought that Sheriff was shooting at him , so he sped up . He got tangled in the statue of Radiator Spring ' s founder , Stanly , and pulled in of its base . Then he zoomed away , ripping up Radiator Spring ' s main road in his wake . < br > Sheriff eventually caught McQueen , and took him to court , from which he was sentenced to fix the road , thanks to the ex - lawyer Sally . The going was slow , and McQueen hated it , even more so when he heard that Chick Hicks had got to California , beating him . He raced to get the job done , but then had to do it again , this time a better job . < br > He eventually finished the road , and befriended all of the other cars at Radiator Springs , especially Mater , a rusty old tow truck , whom he became best friends with , and Sally , who became his girlfriend . There was one car , however , who didn ' t like him : Doc Hudson , who turned out to be the missing racecar champion , the Hudson Hornet . Doc Hudson called Lightning ' s manager , who came with a whole lot of TV reports and Mack , and took Lightning to California . < br > Lightning arrived at the racetrack , and the race begun . But Lightning couldn ' t concentrate : he was missing the others from Radiator Springs too much . Then Doc Hudson and the gang came to the racetrack and became Lightning ' s pit crew . Lightning McQueen was winning the race when Chick Hicks intentionally bumped into Mr . The King , making him crash . McQueen saw what had happened , and remembered what had happened to Doc Hudson . Lightning McQueen , to the astonishment of everyone , braked and stopped just before the finish line , letting Chick Hicks win in the process . Then he went and pushed Mr . The King over the finish line , losing the race . But Lightning didn ' t care : he had learned that winning didn ' t mean everything . < br > < br > Cars 2 < br > < br > In the time between the two movies , Lightning McQueen won all the next Piston Cups , which were renamed the ' Hudson Hornet Piston Cup , ' in honor of Doc Hudson , who died between the two movies . In " Cars 2 " , Lightning competed in the World Grand Prix , thanks to Mater . He and his team went to a party , where Miles Axlerod , the creator of the World Grand Prix and Allinol , a new type of fuel , introduced all the cars competing in the World Grand Prix to everyone . McQueen told Mater that he had to act differently than how he usually did , which made Mater upset . < br > Lightning McQueen and his crew then traveled to the first racetrack of the World Grand Prix in Tokyo , Japan . All the World Grand Prix contestants were given Allinol to use as their fuel . < br > Lightning McQueen won second to Francesco Bernoulli in the first race of the World Grand Prix because of a communication error with Mater , who unintentionally told him to do the wrong move . Two racecars flamed out in the first race , for some unknown reason . Lightning blamed Mater for his losing , and the two got in a fight , which resulted in Mater leaving . < br > McQueen and the remainder of his crew then traveled to Italy , where the second race was to take place . First they went to Luigi and Guido ' s hometown , where he told Luigi ' s uncle about Mater leaving . Then they went to the racetrack . < br > The second race of the World Grand Prix resulted in Lightning McQueen winning , followed closely by Francesco . For some strange reason , four racecars flamed out , which resulted in a huge crash . Allinol was blamed for the cars flaming out and cars stopped drinking it . The cars were then allowed to choose their fuel for the next race , and Lightning chose Allinol , saying that his friend Fillmore said that his fuel was safe , and that he hadn ' t believed a friend lately , and now he was sorry , and he wasn ' t going to make the same mistake again . < br > Lightning and his crew then traveled to London , where the last race was to be held . He called Radiator Springs to talk to Mater , but Mater wasn ' t there . The other cars came from Radiator Springs to London . When McQueen came to the pits during the race , he found Mater there , but Mater drove away from him . Although McQueen didn ' t know it then , Mater had a bomb strapped to him . McQueen caught up to Mater , but Mater activated some set rockets and a parachute and flew away , Lightning holding on to Mater ' s tow cable all the time . The two finally landed , and were met by Holley Shiftwell , a British spy , who told McQueen that Mater had bomb strapped to him . British Spy Finn McMissile came with Professor Z , an antagonist lemon car . Mater unintentionally activated the bomb , but then they were surrounded by lots of antagonist lemons who wanted to kill Lightning McQueen and stop cars from using Allinol and every other type of non - oil fuel because they had found the biggest oil reserve in the world and wanted to become rich . The rest of the cars from Radiator Springs then rescued lightning McQueen , Mater , Holley Shiftwell and Finn McMissile . The remaining lemons retreated but were met by Sarge and his British army friends , who captured the remaining lemons . < br > Mater said that he knew who had strapped the bomb to him , and McQueen and Mater flew off . They landed at the place where the Queen was watching the race , and Mater accused Miles Axlerod of putting the bomb on him . It turned out the Mater was correct , and Miles Axlerod was captured . < br > Then McQueen and the others traveled home where they had their own World Grand Prix at Radiator Springs with the other World Grand Prix racing cars . Cars 3 < br > < br > Lightning McQueen is now a veteran of the racing world and is challenged by the newer generation of race cars . After suffering a major defeat to newcomer Jackson Storm , McQueen begins reconsidering his career . He trains with Cruz Ramirez in hopes that he can make a comeback . Appearances . DUPLO : System : Juniors : Gallery of Variants . System variants DUPLO variants