There were some Disney-released cars that featured animated talking cars in 2006. The race car called lightning McQueen was featured among the cast of talking cars. Most Disney Pixar car lovers might be wondering what car is lightning McQueen.
Other questions like, where the car originates from and the kind of insurance the lightning McQueen car needs are also valid questions. Let’s quickly look at what Lightning McQueen is all about.
1. What is Car Lightning McQueen?
Lightning McQueen is said to be the central character of the collection of the Pixar cars movies; an automated movie of talking cars.
The car is an armature race car that was vocalized by Owen Wilson which is in a Piston Cup Circuit competition.
At the beginning of the franchise, Lightning McQueen portrayed a cocky and self-assured challenger on a mission to outplay the champions to become popular. He loses his friends along the line before realizing his mistakes.
He gets back his confidence through the assistance of Hudson Hornet and had to undergo a series of karate kid training to make new friends. This act helped him recover his image as a genius driver.
2. What Car is Lightning McQueen?
Lightning McQueen is said to be a combination of two generations of Chevrolet Corvette; the C1 and the C6 respectively. The headlight of the car was designed after the Corvette C1 while the taillight was designed after the Corvette C6.
There have been some rumors about what inspired Lightning McQueen. While some said it was made based on the Subaru BRZ, some said it was based on the Mazda RX8.
In reality, the designers of the car movies; Dough Frankel and Jay Shuster got inspiration from different vehicles like vintage muscle cars, NASCAR models, and hot rods. Known as a modified piston cup racer, they combined the elements of those models to create a stylish design.
The bodywork of the car got its inspiration from the NASCAR racecars and the front end car was from vintage muscle cars. It is colored red with yellow lightning bolts.
3. Inspirations of Lightning McQueen’s Design
Listed below are some of the models that inspired the McQueen car;
3.1. Chevrolet Corvette C1
This model is the first of the series from Chevrolet and was established in 1953. It first premiered at the General Motors Motorama held in New York City.
This was a car where the top was open with only two seats. It also had a six-cylinder engine with its outer body designed using glass fiber-reinforced plastic.
It was priced as high as $4000 during its run. It evidently shows that the C1 inspired the Lightning McQueen’s design.
3.2. CorvetteC6
The developers of McQueen had the younger generation in mind when they decided to model the car after the Corvette C6.
It first debuted at a Detroit Auto show where its slick design and the upgraded suspension were showcased. Its engine is bigger than that of the C5.
It came into production from 2005 to 2013 and was sold for about $47,000.
4. Other Inspirations for Lightning McQueen
Apart from the models previously mentioned, they’ve been other models that inspired the production of the McQueen.
They include the following:
- Dodge Charger
- Porsche 911
- Ford GT40
- Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
- Lola T70
5. About Lightning McQueen’s Best Friend
McQueen has a best friend called Mater who helps him understand the concept of friendship. The developers created Mater to be an International boom truck with a bit little changes to fit the character.
The design was inspired by a tow truck and also by one of the trucks of the writers of the series. Mater has a buck-toothed smile and excellent storytelling skills.
6. Why is Lightning McQueen Number 95?
The number 95 holds a sentimental value for the Pixar Animation team. This is because their first film known as the popular Toy Story was released in 1995.
The movie became a hit and the developers decided to use the number for other Pixar creations.
7. Insurance for Lightning McQueen
You might be wondering if the Lightning McQueen car would need car insurance. The Lightning McQueen’s world is made up of vehicles and not humans so, it would need life insurance.
8. Sports Car Insurance
McQueen is regarded as a sports car but there are some instances where there are tiny differences between a sports car and a sedan.
To differentiate between a sports car and a sedan, you need to know the following:
- Two seats
- Turbocharge engine
- Smaller than sedan
- High horsepower
You can use a unique VIN to get the quote for the vehicle.
8.1. Cost of Sports Car Insurance
Due to the fact that the cost of a performance vehicle changes from thousands to millions of dollars, it is difficult to convey the exact amount insurance for a sports car will cost.
The insurance company will request your personal driver information and check the vehicle to access the insurance risk.
Listed below are some of the factors that can impact your insurance:
- Location
- Age
- Driving record
Based on the survey made by Quadrant Information Services, the average annual full coverage cost for a sports car is $2,100 while for a sedan, the average annual full coverage cost is $1,674.
9. Saving on Sports Car Insurance
If you’re working on a budget and cannot afford the cost, there are ways you can save on sports car insurance rates.
9.1. Driving Safe
Most times, insurance companies grant rewards to drivers that haven’t experienced any form of driving accident or faulted traffic citations. They give out driving discounts.
9.2. Higher Deductible
Once you choose the higher deductible payment option, it will lower your premium insurance. This means that you’ll end up paying higher costs in long term.
9.3. Safety Features
The additional features of sports cars have unique safety options. Most insurance companies take this into consideration and decrease the premium in return.
10. Final Thoughts
Lightning McQueen is a racing car feature in Pixar’s animated movie. The developers got the inspiration for its design from two models. This 2006 Disney animation teaches also the value of friendships.
We hope we’ve been able to answer your questions on what car is Lightning McQueen. Kindly share this information and leave a comment below.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the frequently asked questions about what car is Lightning McQueen.
11.1 Is Lightning McQueen a BRZ?
Yes, lightning McQueen is a Subaru BRZ.
11.2. What is Lightning McQueen’s age?
As of 2023, Ligtning McQueen is aged 46.
11.3. What is Lightning McQueen’s Catchphrase?
Lightning Mcqueen is known to say phrases like, “I am speed!” or “Ka-chow!”
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