Cars 2 character: Chauncy Fares [UPDATE: More British Characters]

Disney/Pixar gave me this early look at new Cars 2 character Chauncy Fares, one of the British characters met by Lightning McQueen and crew during the London leg of the World Grand Prix.

"No one knows the sites, streets or shortcuts of London better than the jovial Chauncy Fares, a quintessential London black cab," reads his official one-line bio.

I had the pleasure of visiting London last month and it is such an unbelievably cool, stylish place. I can't wait to see Pixar's take on it in the world of Cars.

On Friday, technical director Michael Frederickson tweeted that it's been his job to build the "40,000 buildings" that make up the city in the movie. He later added: "Perhaps the weirdest moment of working on London for so long was realizing I knew my way around a city I've never visited."

-----

Update: As noted above, Chauncy Fares is one of a group of British characters appearing in Cars 2. Four more have been unveiled via HeyUGuys and they're a lot of fun.

Topper Deckington III is a classic British double-decker bus in a vivid shade of red who relishes in his daily Killswitch route through London’s famous bustling Petroldilly Circus.

With the final stage of the World Grand Prix racing through the historic streets of London, England, the Queen is quietly elated she was invited to preside over the finish line by Sir Miles Axlerod.

Painted in shades of the most royal blues and never without her jeweled crown, the Queen is the definition of decorum and regality, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy a bit of first-rate competition!

(From the "E" insignia on the wheel trim, it looks like she shares a name with her real-world counterpart.)

Prince Wheeliam of England is an avid racing fan. He can’t believe his luck that the final race of the one-of-a-kind World Grand Prix is happening on the streets of London. Though he must remain impartial when by his grandmother the Queen’s side, he is privately rooting for his fellow Brits Lewis Hamilton and Nigel Gearsley to cross the finish line first.

Sgt. Highgear is a member of the regiment assigned to London’s landmark Buckingham Palace. With a recognizable tall bearskin cap atop his scarlet body, he stands guard at his sentry box with pride and conviction.

(Updated 12:20 PM)