- ""Well, you know, I was just wearing a disguise. You guys are stuck looking like that!""
- —Rod Redline mocking the Lemons, Cars 2
Rod "Torque" Redline is one of the two overarching protagonists (alongside Leland Turbo) of Pixar's 12th full-length animated film Cars 2 and was the American spy that Finn and Holley were supposed to meet up with. He worked as a field agent for the C.H.R.O.M.E. agency.
Cars 2 Turntable "Rod "Torque" Redline"
History[]
Cars 2[]
Rod being forced to use Allinol after being captured while Professor Zündapp and his henchmen demonstrate the fuel's basics to the agent.
In Cars 2, Rod was first seen on the oil rig disguised as an AMC Gremlin. Talking to Professor Zundapp about the EMP weapon asking what it actually does as it was shown to be a standard TV camera. The professor quickly reveals that the camera is extremely dangerous and tells Rod that the camera is valuable equipment and wants him to make sure it is properly secured. Rod gives a command to Muggsy Liftsome to close the box the camera is in. Rod later came to the Tokyo party to exchange info with Finn McMissile, but his plan was compromised, and he was ambushed by Acer and Grem. Rod attempts to fend the villains off, but both cars are able to dodge his tactics and severly damage him. Their brawl is interrupted when Mater, who had entered the bathroom before the trio to take care of his "oil leak", exits his stall after a brief struggle with a Japanese washing contraption (a heated bidet). His antics distract Grem and Acer just long enough for Rod to pass the device with the info onto the tow truck's undercarriage without arousing any further suspicion.
After the previous events, Grem and Acer kidnap Rod and bring him to a run down warehouse on the edge of the city. There, he was restrained on a dynamometer while being pumped with the fuel "Allinol". At first, Rod expresses gratitude, highlighting its veneration for its positive impact on cars. Professor Zündapp overhears this and partially affirms Rod's assumption, but reveals that it has an explosive reaction when in contact with an electromagnetic pulse. Rod is then reintroduced to the camera from the oil rig with Grem manning the machine before Zündapp reveals that its true purpose is to emit electromagnetic radiation after granting his henchman permission to set it to 50% power.
As Allinol began to cause a reaction, the lemons begin to grill Rod as to who he passed the intel off to, with Acer putting up a slideshow of security camera stills depicting the agent in disguise making contact with several cars throughout the duration of the party. Rod resists, but he has an involuntary reaction when an image of Mater flashes across the screen, which Zündapp catches and contacts his boss about, assuring that the issue will be sorted out before it's too late. Rod could only show horror at allowing an oblivious civilian tow truck to become a target, before Zündapp returns to fire the EMP weapon at 100% power, killing the agent in a fiery explosion.
Despite Rod's death, his efforts were crucial enough to let Mater and the British agents fully understand the situation of the criminal conspiracy that the lemons are involved. Mater even takes the chance to finish up by exposing Miles Axlerod as the true mastermind of the conspiracy, thus resulting in Axlerod, Zundapp and the Lemons to be arrested and sent to prison for their crimes and giving full closure for Rod and Leland Turbo's deaths for good, avenging the two spies.
Cars 2: The Video Game[]
In Cars 2: The Video Game, Rod is a playable character that can only be used in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, as he needs to be purchased from one of the corresponding stores (however, the Wii Shop Channel was closed in January 30, 2019 and the Xbox 360 Marketplace was closed in July 29, 2024). He is lightweight and utilizes more power than speed. He can also be downloaded in his Gremlin disguise. However, he is an unlockable character in PSP version of game.
Bio[]
Cars 2[]
- Rod Redline is considered by many as the greatest American spy in the world. Recruited after the Cold War for both his brains and brawn, Torque is a tough-as-nails Detroit muscle car with a mastery of disguises. In his latest deep-cover operation, he obtained vital information about the plot to sabotage the World Grand Prix. So Rod plans a rendezvous with his British counterparts to share his discoveries at the World Grand Prix welcome reception in Tokyo, Japan. But with the bad guys hot on his tailpipe, Rod is forced to ditch the intel early and with the first party guest he sees — a rusty American tow truck named Mater.
General information[]
Physical description[]
Rod is a 2006 Deringer G4 DXR. The design is based on the 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept, although the official site IMCDB refers it to as the 2010 production model.[1] The front also resembles more of a 2005 Ford Shelby GT500/Saleen S281. His top speed is 145 mph (233 km/h), with a 0-60 of 4.4 seconds. His engine is a 5.5L V8, with a horsepower of 550. His license plate was M1911A1, which is also the name of a gun. He is painted blue with black stripes. He has 20-inch aluminum wheels.
Personality[]
Rod is cool and resolute, being able to blend in amongst the lemons without drawing any major suspicion to himself as he worked to uncover who was behind the sabatoge of the World Grand Prix. While under his disguise at the Tokyo Party, Rod is seen sporting a smile with every car he talks to, except when he meets with the Lemons. After being captured, he makes it a point to keep up a smile and even makes a joke at the lemons' expense.
Occupation[]
Rod was an American spy for the C.H.R.O.M.E. agency.
Powers and abilities[]
Rod possesses a combination of abilities and tools that make him a formidable operative. He is expert in high-speed chases, evasive maneuvers, and off-road handling. He manages to transmit a critical photo (of the weapon) before getting caught—this shows his quick thinking and tactical instincts, ensuring the mission can continue even if he's taken out. Despite heavy damage and being clearly outmatched, he holds out long enough to pass the intel to Mater, cleverly hiding it by placing the device in a photo Mater picks up. This shows a mix of quick improvisation, strategic thinking, and self-sacrifice.
Weaponry and Gadgets[]
Rod Redline: Undercover
Rod's status bar
- Gremlin disguise: Rod had an integrated disguise of an AMC Gremlin which is not a hologram but composed of physical pieces, unlike the disguises of his British colleagues.
Rod removing his Gremlin disguise
- Concealed pistol: Located in the front left wheel.
- Telescoping utility arm: A small screwdriver-like arm, located in the right wheel. Rod used this to attach a small device on Mater that was containing top-secret information.
- Status bar: Right under his windshield, Rod had a screen in the form of a bar that gave him his sitrep, notably giving the amount of fuel, and several other parameters.
- Machine Gun: In his Quick-Changers die-cast, it is located in the left door.
Behind the Scenes[]
Rod's interrogation scene has been criticized as surprising or even inappropriate. In an interview, John Lasseter said that the scene was necessary to explain efficiently and visually the working and high danger of Professor Zundapp's camera.
It also enabled to get in the movie a certain tone of the spy genre. Story Supervisor Nathan Stanton said that while "watching spy films, where your character is basically tortured and it can be a really horrifying scene, I remember thinking if we could just get five-percent of this in one of our scenes, [...] if we could just get a little of this in what we want, it would be great. It would go a long way."
Both Lasseter and Supervising Animator Dave Mullins mentioned that the scene as it had originally been conceived was much darker and crueler, and that several people at the studio reacted to it. They say in consequence that they "backed off tremendously." Lasseter mentions that the changes included making Rod a "tough guy".
Appearances[]
Feature Films[]
Video Games[]
- Cars 2: The Video Game (as a downloadable character except PSP)
- AppMATes (as a NPC)
Gallery[]
- For this subject's image gallery, see Rod "Torque" Redline/Gallery.
Names in other languages[]
- Chinese: 托克 (pinyin: Tuō kè)
- Danish: Rod "Topper" Redline
- Estonian: Ülar Ülapööre
- Finnish: Rodi Ruuti Riski
- Italian: Rod Coppia Motrice
- Japanese: ロッド・トルク・レッドライン
- Polish: Rod "Rumak" Spoiler
- Romanian: Tija "Torque" Redline
- Russian:
- Род "Конь" Редлайн (transcription: Rod "Kon'" Redlayn)
- Род «Конь» Рэдлайн (transcription: Rod "Kon'" Redlayn)
- Turkish: Rod "Tork" Redline
- Ukraine: Турботяга (transcription: Turbotyaha)
Trivia[]
- Rod's render is a modified (and modern) version of Snot Rod, minus the hot rod engine, etc.
- The DXR labels on Rod may be stating the trim level of his model.
- His odometer read 172,623 miles (277,809 kilometers) when he was captured.
- Although fan theory, there may be a possibility that his 5.5L V8 engine could also exist on off-screen unofficial Deringer pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and possibly some other passenger cars like a Crown Victoria, Charger or Magnum equivalent in the universe.
- Rod is possibly the only car in the whole franchise to date with a visible gauge cluster, which is the status bar on his hood scoop.
- According to his license plate, he is from Michigan. Michigan is the birthplace of actor Bruce Campbell, who voiced Rod Redline.
- A Toys "R" Us Lego exclusive of Rod was released for free on October 15, 2011 in the US for LEGO Cars.
- Rod was seen talking to Shigeko while in his Gremlin disguise.
- When Rod had his Gremlin disguise on, his eyes were brown instead of blue, they're possibly brown contact lenses.
- Rod is downloadable in Cars 2: The Video Game, even though he's supposed to be dead. it's possible that Rod is either part of the simulations or maybe has been restored by the C.H.R.O.M.E. agency, since he is a car.
- In the cancelled Cars Toons short, To Protect and Serve, the two sheriffs, Mike 07 and Didi 05 were going to use Rod's basis.
- In Cars 3, Pat Traxson's model is the same model as Rod's, albeit slightly smaller.
- Rod is the fifth known character to officially die in the series.
- Like with Cars 2: The Video Game, even though Rod is supposed to be dead, Rod gives the player the tutorial mission on AppMATes.
- All Lego Cars toy line have printed eyes. For some reason, Rod's eyes were placed as a sticker.
- Rod has not been re-released in the 1:55 scale die-cast line since 2012 for unknown reasons, it's likely to match with him being dead.
- On the Cars 2 page for the Pixar website Rod is included in the racers category, in place of Jeff Gorvette, despite being a spy.
- Rod was going to receive a variant of his damaged diecast with a parking boot, but it got canceled.
- The damaged diecast with a parking boot is not hard to create with actual pieces despite being canceled. One will need is a damaged Rod "Torque" Redline diecast. Then you will need two of the parking boots from either impounded diecast character. The problem is that the boots are yellow as opposed to being grey.
- Rod's registration number (M1911A1) is a reference to the Colt M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol.
- In the Latin Spanish dub, his quote "Your mother. Oh, no, I'm sorry, it was your sister! You know, I can't tell them apart these days!", was changed to "Tu abuelo. Ay, no, perdona, era tu hermano. ¡Son tan feos que no los distingo!" (Your grandfather. Oh no, sorry, it was your brother. They are so ugly that I can't tell them apart!).
- In the Russian dub, his quote "Your mother. Oh, no, I'm sorry, it was your sister! You know, I can't tell them apart these days!", was changed to "Твой конструктор! Ой, а может быть слесарь-сборщик! Оба пьяницы, поди их различи!" (Your designer! Oh, or maybe your fitter! Both are drunkards, try and tell them apart!).
- In the theatrical and original home release of the film, Rod was screaming and/or groaning in pain as the EMP weapon is about to kill him. This was removed in later home releases and Disney + version of the film, likely because it shows how dark the scene is.
Quotes[]
- "Here it is, Professor. You wanna see it before we load it?" - Cars 2
- "Oh, a TV camera. What does it actually do?" - Cars 2
- "You got it!" - Cars 2
- "Okay, McMissile. I'm here." - Cars 2
- "I'm fine." - Cars 2
- "Well, you know. I was just wearing a disguise. You guys are stuck looking like that!" - Cars 2
- "Allinol? Thanks, fellas! I hear this stuff is good for you." - Cars 2
- "Is that what you want? I got a whole act!" - Cars 2
- "Whatever you say, Professor." - Cars 2
- "Your mother. Oh, no, I'm sorry, it was your sister! You know, I can't tell them apart these days!" - Cars 2
- "What do I care? I can replace an engine block!" - Cars 2
- "NO!" (His last words, after the lemons find out he put his intel on Mater) - Cars 2
- "Hey buddy, my good side's over here." - Lights n' Sounds