Jay Ward, creative director of the Cars franchise at Pixar Animation Studios, hinted at the development of the much-anticipated sequel to 2017’s Cars 3.

Speaking at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 via The Lake Brake Show on YouTube, Ward disclosed that several Cars projects are in the works.

Ward played pivotal roles as a character manager, art coordinator, and additional voice contributor in both Cars and Cars 3.  Ward is acknowledged as the “guardian” of the Cars franchise due to his profound knowledge and passion for automobiles.

Ward shared insights into the future of Cars, stating, “There are more Cars things brewing, I can’t say much more yet. Cars has got a life that will keep going. I am working on some real fun projects right now that you will see in a couple of years. It takes us a while to make them.”

The return of Cars to the big screen has been a topic of speculation since 2017 when producer Kevin Reher hinted at thepossibility of a fourth main-series feature film. Addressing the challenges of creating a sequel, Reher explained to CinemaBlend, “As long as there’s a good story to tell, it’s worth investing. We do love these characters, we love them as much as the public does.” Cars 3 concluded with Lightning McQueen, voiced by Owen Wilson, passing the torch to a younger and fiercer car, mirroring the classic narrative of a seasoned athlete facing off against new talent. Cars 4 may see Lightning McQueen in a mentorship role, guiding and competing against his former protégé Cruz Ramirez voiced by Cristela Alonzo.

There’s this …

There apparently is a “Lightning McQueen” shaped full size CAR under cover at Matte’s Design Center … and Toyfair is coming up next week so we might hear something as early as next week??