Cars 4

Template:Infobox/Film

***Cars 4*** is a 2026 American computer-animated comedy-adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the fourth and final installment in Pixar's *Cars* film series and the direct sequel to *Cars 3* (2017). The film was directed by Domee Shi and written by Kiel Murray, Dan Fogelman, Martin Hynes, and C.S. Anderson from a story by Valerie LaPointe and Ben Queen. Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Dooley, Lloyd Sherr, Jerome Ranft, Katherine Helmond[a], John Ratzenberger, Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, and Armie Hammer reprise their roles from the first three films. They are all joined in by Alden Ehrenreich, Joseph Morgan, Richard Jenkins, Rachel Ticotin, Gloria Estefan, and Peter Sarsgaard, who voice the new characters introduced in this film, in addition to several NASCAR personalities and celebrity cameos. In the film, Lightning McQueen goes up against a returning champion racer, whose father runs a family-owned racing business, and challenges him to a street race in Los Angeles to save the Piston Cup from bankruptcy.

The film premiered in Los Angeles at the El Capitan Theatre on June 9, 2026, and was released in the United States on June 19, 2026. It grossed over $458 million worldwide and received mostly positive reviews from critics, with many critics considering it to be the best installment of the franchise.

## Synopsis

Nine months after the end of the previous film, Rust-Eze Medicated Bumper Ointment has been purchased by Dinoco owner Tex Dinoco. Lightning McQueen has gone into a part-time racing business, where he races for half of the season and coaches Cruz Ramirez, who has become a rookie racer for Dinoco, the other half. While training with Cruz one day at Willie's Butte, Lightning McQueen sees an ad on the television that announces the Piston Cup having to go into bankruptcy due to insufficient funds from the crowd. To make matters even more heart-wrenching, a returning champion racer named Peyton Wheeler threatens to replace the Piston Cup with his father's more financially successful racing business the Wheeler's Cup. Lightning McQueen then decides to strike a deal with Wheeler where they will race together in a street race in Los Angeles, and that if McQueen wins, the Piston Cup can get a large sum of money to stay open, but if Wheeler wins, the Piston Cup gets replaced with the Wheeler's Cup permanently.

## Voice cast

*See also: List of Cars characters*

* Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, a legendary Piston Cup racer and crew chief. He is also Mater's best friend, Sally's boyfriend, and Cruz Ramirez's mentor.
* Alden Ehrenreich as Peyton Wheeler, a returning champion racer whom Lightning McQueen challenges to a street race in Los Angeles that will determine the fate of the Piston Cup and whether or not it'll get replaced.
* Joseph Morgan as Wilfred Tiretread, the fearful but competent head owner of the Piston Cup racing league and manager to all the racers.
* Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, a goofy but well-meaning tow truck, Lightning McQueen's best friend, and Holley Shiftwell's boyfriend.
* Bonnie Hunt as Sally Carrera, a Porsche 996 hotel owner and Lightning McQueen's girlfriend.
* Richard Jenkins as Johnny Wheeler, the owner of the Wheeler's Cup and Peyton's father.
* Rachel Ticotin as Hillary Wheeler, Johnny's wife and Peyton's mother.
* Michael Caine as Finn McMissile, a British spy car who is friends with Lightning McQueen and Mater.
* Cristela Alonzo as Cruz Ramirez, Lightning McQueen's former trainer turned protégée and a rookie racer for Dinoco.
* Gloria Estefan as Shellie Guilla, an Alfa Romeo Guilla night club singer and weapons designer.
* Emily Mortimer as Holley Shiftwell, a beautiful British desk agent, Finn McMissile's assistant, and Mater's girlfriend.
* Chris Cooper as Smokey, a 1946 Hudson pickup truck and Doc Hudson's former mechanic and crew chief who runs an automotive garage service in Thomasville, Georgia.
* Armie Hammer as Jackson Storm, a champion racer for IGNITR and a frenemy of Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez's.
* Peter Sarsgaard as Nelson, a 2017 Chevy Malibu and a racing enthusiast who claims to be a "big fan" of Lightning McQueen's, as well as a former friend of Peyton Wheeler's.
* Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, a Fiat 500 who runs a tire shop in Radiator Springs.
* Guido Quaroni as Guido, a custom forklift who works alongside Luigi.
* Tom Magliozzi[b] and Ray Magliozzi as Rusty and Dusty Rust-Eze, the retired founders of Rust-Eze and close friends of Lightning McQueen's.
* Eddie Izzard as Sir Miles Axlerod, a British oil billionaire and Finn McMissile's archenemy.
* Nathan Fillion as Sterling, a rich business car who runs a mudflap industry.
* Lea DeLaria as Miss Fritter, an intimidating monster truck school bus from the Thunder Hollow demolition derby.
* Kerry Washington as Natalie Certain, a statistical analyst for the Piston Cup.
* David Letterman and Bill Maher as Louis the Corvette and Baby Blue, the hosts of Mater's favorite television show *Louis & Baby Blue Tales*.
* Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen's former racing rival and the host of *Chick's Picks with Chick Hicks*.
* Madeleine McGraw as Maddy McGear, a small red car who is a fan of Lightning McQueen's.
* Lloyd Sherr as Fillmore, a laid-back 1960s Volkswagen Microbus who owns an organic fuel tent in Radiator Springs called "Fillmore's Organic Fuel".
* John Ratzenberger as Mack, a 1985 Mack Superliner and Lightning McQueen's mode of transportation.
* Michel Michelis as Tomber, a French three-wheeled car and an old friend of Finn McMissile's.
* Richard Kind and Edie McClurg as Van and Minny, a minivan couple who are regular customers of the Radiator Springs locals.
* Lewis Hamilton as Hamilton, Cruz Ramirez's voice command assistant.
* Brian Fee as Mr. Soul Truck, a pickup truck who is the owner of the nightclub that Shellie works at and also serves as her boss.
* Domee Shi as Ray-Ray, a sleak and feminine Kia K5 and Peyton's engaged lover.
* Paul Dooley as Sarge, a 1941 Willys Jeep and a WWII veteran. This was the final piece of Cars media to feature him as he passed away five months later on November 26, 2026.
* Jerome Ranft as Red, a 1960s fire truck who lives in the Radiator Springs fire station and courthouse.
* Bob Costas as Bob Cutlass, a Piston Cup announcer and commentator.
* Lindsey Collins and Elissa Knight as Mia and Tia, two 1992 Mazda Miatas who are Lightning McQueen's biggest fans.
* Jeff Garlin as Otis, a rusty blue lemon that frequently gets painted by Ramone after getting towed into Radiator Springs by Mater.
* Marisa Tomei as Rose Red, a red BMW model and Louis' girlfriend on *Louis & Baby Blue Tales*.
* Cheech Marin as Ramone, a 1959 Chevrolet Impala Lowrider and the owner of Ramone's House of Body Art in Radiator Springs.
* Michael Wallis as Sheriff, a 1949 Mercury Club Coupe police car who serves as the main police officer of Radiator Springs.
* Jerry Trainor as Todd "The Shockster" Marcus, a retired Piston Cup race car who used to race for No Stall.
* Katherine Helmond as Lizzie[a], a 1923 Ford Model T who owns the Radiator Springs Curios souvenir shop.
* Jenifer Lewis as Flo, a 1957 Motorama show car and Ramone's wife.
* Andra Day as Sweet Tea, a Southern-accented forklift who works as a singer at the Cotter Pin Bar and Grill in Thomasville
* David Hyde Pierce as Orville Wheeler, Johnny's older brother and Peyton's uncle. Pierce previously voiced a car version of Flik from *A Bug's Life* in the original *Cars*.
* Charlie Hunnam as Franklin "Ford" Roadages, Wilfred Tiretread's assistant manager.
* Pamela Anderson as Regina V8, a female Land Rover who is Miles Axlerod's cellmate at the start of the film and eventually becomes his girlfriend when they are released.

Additionally, several NASCAR personalities voice cameos in the film, including Aric Almirola as Aric Almotorolla, Josh Bilicki as Josh Brakeburst, Chase Elliott as Chase Racelott, Darrell Waltrip as Darrell Cartrip, Richard Petty as Strip "The King" Weathers, his son Kyle Petty as Cal Weathers, Ray Evernham as Ray Reverham, Humpy Wheeler as Tex Dinoco, and Quin Houff as Quin Honda.

Celebrities Will Smith, Maren Morris, Ray Liotta, Vivian Nixon, Allen Covert, and Jon Stewart also appear voicing Will Smog, Maren Motor, Ray Ledtire, Vivian Nissan, Allen Corvette, and Jon Subaru, respectively.

Doc Hudson appears in the film via flashbacks with his Radiator Springs Racers actor Corey Burton providing his voice.