It seems that all your favorite animated automobiles will be back in theaters sooner than we thought. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cars 2 will be driving up to theaters in 2011.

The sequel was originally slated for a 2012 release, but Pixar's John Lassetter said at a Disney event today that the film has been moved up a year. Lassetter also said that Brad Lewis, who produced Antz and Ratatouille, will make his direcotrial debut and that the film will be inspired by cars all over the world that Lassetter saw while doing press for Cars.

Lassetter also said that an animated series of cartoons dubbed Cars Toons will be airing on The Disney Channel, with the possibility of becoming a feature of its own. The first toon to air will be entitled Mater's Tall Tales, featuring the tow-truck character from the first film, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy.