'Cars 2' to be released in 2011

Disney has announced that the sequel to Cars will hit cinemas in 2011.

Executives have moved the film, which was originally planned for release in 2012, forward by a year.

Pixar's chief creative officer John Lasseter commented that the movie has been influenced by vehicles from around the world that the team saw while promoting the first film.

Cars 2 will be directed by Brad Lewis, who produced Ratatouille and Antz.

Meanwhile, fans can keep up with the franchise via Cars Toons, a series of animated shorts set within the Cars universe. The shorts will play on the Disney Channel and may screen in cinemas.