“Cars 2” & State Farm “Agents on a Mission” Kick-Off March 22nd

My boys LOVE Cars and we will definitely be seeing Cars 2 when it comes out in theaters this June!  Starting on March 22nd, 2011, State Farm will be presenting the “Agents on a Mission” Multi-City Tour, kicking off at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Check out the Racecar Lightning McQueen, Lovable Tow Truck Mater, and Master British Spy Finn McMissile as they race across North America to Celebrate Disney-Pixar’s Big-Screen Adventure, Cars 2.  The star cars race off the big screen and into a host of cities – life-size remote-controlled models will light up and rev for fans in Detroit, Toronto, Phoenix, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, DC, and Miami, among others.  The tour heats up at the film’s Los Angeles red-carpet premiere on June 18, just in time for the Cars 2 theatrical opening on June 24.

“The ‘Agents on a Mission’ tour lets fans get face to face with Cars favorites Lightning McQueen and Mater, plus the very cool, very savvy spy Finn McMissile, a new character on Cars 2 roster,” says MT Carney, president of marketing for the Walt Disney Studios.  “This movie is filled with fun, action, heart and a lot of laughs – we want to get everyone geared up for Cars 2.”

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in Disney-Pixar’s Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix.  But the road to championship is filled with surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine).  Directed by John Lasseter and produced by Denise Ream, the fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.

State Farm brings Disney-Pixar’s Cars 2 adventure directly to fans with the “Agents on a Mission” tour, showcasing cars modeled after their big-screen likeness.  The cars will be outfitted in Goodyear tires and transported from coast to coast (and back again) by Mack Trucks, Inc.  Visitors can check out the cars and take part in a variety of Cars 2-themed activities, including a video kiosk, e-photo opportunities, games and giveaways.  They can also enter the “Agents on a Mission” sweepstakes, which features 18,000 prizes, including a new car.

“State Farm is thrilled to present the Cars 2 ‘Agents on a Mission’ tour,” says Pam El, marketing vice president, State Farm.  “Like our force of 18,000 agents across the U.S. and Canada, whose mission is to help people realize their dreams every day, families can become secret agents by participating in fun Cars 2-themed missions at the tour and online.”

The tour will run through June, hitting the U.S. red-carpet premiere in Los Angeles, and wrapping up in San Francisco and Sonoma.

Disney-Pixar’s Cars, originally released on June 9, 2006, grossed nearly $462 million worldwide.  It was nominated for two Oscars and one Golden Globe Award, winning the first every Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film.

Presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters, Disney-Pixar’s Cars 2 hits the track on June 24, 2011.

For more information about the movie, the tour and a list of cities, check out Disney.com/cars. Like “Cars 2” on Facebook:facebook.com/pixarcars, and follow “Cars 2” on Twitter: twitter.com/disneypixar. To enter the “Agents on a Mission” sweepstakes, go toDisney.com/agents. For more information about State Farm and the “Agents on a Mission” promotion, like State Farm on Facebook:facebook.com/statefarm or follow State Farm on Twitter: twitter.com/statefarm.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CARS FROM THE STATE FARM “AGENTS ON A MISSION” TOUR

SIZE MATTERS – The replica cars are the largest production radio-controlled replica cars ever built.

• · At 1000 foot pounds of torque – the electric motors provide enough power to theoretically climb a telephone pole!
• · Finn weighs in around 1,760 lbs.
• · Lightning McQueen weighs in around 2,250 lbs.
• · Mater weighs in at just over 2,700 lbs.

ART IN MOTION — Because of the unique scale of these vehicles, all the exterior pieces had to be fabricated from scratch. No actual “off- the-shelf” car parts could be used. The sculpting process for each vehicle’s body took 6-10 days, totaling 1000-1600 man hours. After the cars were carved in foam, a fiberglass mold was created, and from that the final bodies were produced.

• · The chassis for the cars are Model-T replica frames.
• · Mater is hand-painted, using a proprietary system that creates real rust on his cab and bed.
• · Because the cars had to reflect the designs of the film’s characters, the control systems (switches, lights etc.) had to be built into the various parts of the car. These have been hidden from view.

FILL ‘ER UP — The cars are all electric powered. Each runs on four automotive-style batteries at 48 volts and can run for 30 minutes at full speed.

NO SPEEDING ZONE — The cars can travel up to 10 miles per hour.

REV IT UP — The engine sounds and exhaust sounds are recreated through a 200-watt sound system under the hood.

• · The cars are controlled by a high-tech radio-control system normally used for high-end RC hobby cars.

TRICKY TIRES – Lightning McQueen’s tires are one of a kind due to their unique size and were fabricated by Goodyear specifically for the “Agents on a Mission” tour.

• · Lightning McQueen is so low to the ground that he needs specially designed ramps to get over even the smallest bumps.

YOU’VE GOT THE LOOK — There are three sets of eyes that are held to the windshield by magnets. The fiberglass windshield is imbedded with iron filings which attracts the magnetic eyes.

I received no compensation for this post.  Press release courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.