Dubai shoppers at City Walk, Dubai, were treated to a surprise appearance this weekend by hotshot race car Lightning McQueen from Disney Pixar’s Cars, who is embarking on a tour of the GCC in celebration of the release of the new Cars 3 movie this summer (showing in UAE cinemas from June 15).

Cars 3 features Owen Wilson (“The Royal Tenenbaums,” upcoming “Wonder”) as the voice of the legendary Lightning McQueen, who is blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers – including next-gen racer Jackson Storm, voiced by Armie Hammer (“Birth of a Nation”) – and is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he needs the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, voiced by Cristela Alonzo, (“The Angry Birds Movie”), with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Kerry Washington (ABC’s “Scandal,” HBO’s “Confirmation”) voices statistical analyst Natalie Certain, Nathan Fillion (ABC’s “Castle,” ABC’s “Modern Family”) provides the voice of brilliant business car Sterling, Lea DeLaria (Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black”) lends her voice to formidable school bus Miss Fritter, and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton helps bring voice command assistant Hamilton to life.

Directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist “Cars,” “Cars 2“) and produced by Kevin Reher (“A Bug’s Life,” “La Luna” short), Cars 3 cruises into UAE cinemas on June 15 and into cinemas across the Middle East from July 13. The model of Lightning McQueen – created by Simba, the Middle East’s biggest toy distributor – will be touring the GCC ahead of the movie’s release.