Disney Debuts New Cars 3 Character - Cruz Ramirez

In 2006's Cars, hotshot rookie Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) learned to value sportsmanship and loyalty over winning and a lucrative and glamorous sponsorship. In the 2011 sequel, Cars 2, Lightning McQueen headed overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix and Mater got embroiled in international espionage. For the upcoming Cars 3, McQueen isn't as lightning quick as he once was and will need a new trainer to help him to compete in the increasingly high-tech racing world.

That new trainer is Cruz Ramirez, a young Hispanic female race car. "Cruz Ramirez is trying to figure out how this old dog can learn some new tricks," Cars 3 director Brian Fee told USA Today.

It's only been 10 years since the first film, but apparently McQueen doesn't have much tread left on his tires.

"Think of where he'd be in his career now in real time," Fee explained. "(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."

Coming full circle, McQueen will now feel what it is like to be beaten by a hotshot rookie.

"Jackson Storm is the face of these rookies who have come onto the scene," Fee shared. "And McQueen is in a position where his entire racing generation is being pushed out. But it's too early to be shown the door right now."

Cars 3 is progressing quite well, but some story points are still being worked out and Pixar is ready to announce new members of voice cast.

Concept art of Ramirez (yellow) going for a run on the beach with McQueen can be seen in our gallery below.

Cars 3 will be released on Jun 16, 2017.