in Entertainment, Pixar
Credit: Pixar
Disney is officially changing Lightning McQueen and the rest of the Cars characters two decades after their debut.
Start your engines, because Pixar’s Cars franchise is officially shifting into high gear once again, and this time, it’s not just heading back to screens. It’s also racing straight into Walt Disney World Resort.
A brand-new animated series, Cars: Lightning Racers, is set to debut in 2027, marking the latest chapter for Lightning McQueen and friends. Announced as a Disney Jr. project, the series will bring back fan-favorite characters, including Owen Wilson’s Lightning McQueen and Larry the Cable Guy’s Mater. However, this won’t look exactly like the Cars films audiences have come to expect.
Instead of Pixar’s signature hyper-detailed, cinematic animation style, Lightning Racers will adopt a fresh, stylized aesthetic. Early looks lean into bold outlines and expressive designs. The shift appears inspired in part by the franchise’s merchandise and theme park artwork, offering a more playful and accessible feel for younger viewers. It’s a noticeable departure from the photorealistic textures of Radiator Springs, but one that signals Disney and Pixar’s willingness to evolve the brand for a new generation.
Importantly, this is not Cars 4. While fans have long speculated about another theatrical installment following Cars (2006), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017), Lightning Racers is a television continuation of the universe rather than a big-screen sequel. Still, the continued expansion shows just how valuable the franchise remains nearly two decades after it first sped into theaters.
A first look was shared on social media.
EXCLUSIVE: Enjoy a first look at the upcoming Disney Junior animated series based on Pixar’s Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers!
Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy are set to return as Lightning and Mater!
Start those engines as the series races to Disney+ next year!
🚘EXCLUSIVE🚘: Enjoy a first look at the upcoming Disney Junior animated series based on Pixar's Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers!
Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy are set to return as Lightning and Mater!
Start those engines as the series races to Disney+ next year! pic.twitter.com/3BRAnQKuEo
— The Garfield Movie News (@GarfieldMovNews) February 10, 2026
While Lightning McQueen prepares for his small-screen comeback, Walt Disney World Resort is undergoing one of its most dramatic transformations in recent memory, all in the name of Cars. Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland is being reimagined to make way for Piston Peak National Park, a fully immersive Cars-themed land inspired by America’s great wilderness destinations.
The project replaces the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat area, closures that marked the end of a nostalgic era for longtime guests. In their place, Disney Imagineers are constructing an expansive environment filled with rugged mountains, forests, waterfalls, and geothermal features, all brought to life through the lens of the Cars universe.
Piston Peak National Park promises at least two major attractions. One is expected to be a thrilling off-road rally adventure that takes guests deep into the wilderness alongside new and familiar automotive characters. Another will reportedly offer a more family-friendly experience, blending scenic storytelling with accessible thrills. Concept art hints at towering peaks and sweeping vistas designed to rival some of Magic Kingdom’s most ambitious lands.
Thematically, Piston Peak appears to blend the Americana spirit of Frontierland with the adventurous tone established in Cars lore. It’s not simply a carbon copy of Radiator Springs from Disney California Adventure–it’s a new chapter within the same world, tailored specifically for Florida audiences.
Taken together, the 2027 Disney Jr. series and the ongoing Magic Kingdom expansion signal a coordinated push to keep Cars firmly in the cultural fast lane. What began as a film about a hotshot rookie learning humility in a forgotten desert town has grown into a multimedia powerhouse spanning movies, streaming content, merchandise, and now one of the largest expansions in Magic Kingdom history.
For fans of Lightning McQueen, the road ahead has never looked busier. Whether you’re tuning in from your living room or walking through the towering peaks of Piston Peak National Park, one thing is clear: the Cars franchise isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
How do you feel about this new look for the Cars characters? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!
in Entertainment, Pixar
When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake — to bake and to eat). He’s a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it’s One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.
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