What happened to Mater‘s girlfriend?

For fans wondering "what happened to Mater‘s girlfriend" since we last saw the Cars characters on the big screen, rest assured their unique romance is still cruising smoothly along. Mater‘s girlfriend Holley Shiftwell, the elegant British spy car who stole his fender in Cars 2, is still right by his side as of 2017‘s Cars 3.

This beloved but unexpected couple has overcome differences in background and lifestyle thanks to an innate chemistry between the humble tow truck and sophisticated secret agent. And with hints of wedding bells in their future, their "happily ever after" may just be beginning.

Holley Shiftwell: Mater‘s New International Car of Mystery

Holley Shiftwell burst onto the scene in Cars 2, bringing sleek purple styling and Bond-worthy spy skills to the franchise. As a spy for the British agency CHROME, she‘s equipped with an arsenal of gadgets under her glossy exterior. Retractable wings give her flight capability, headlight cameras stream recon footage, and an electromagnetic pulse device lets her disable other vehicles‘ electronics.

With smooth handling allowing precision maneuvering and targeting, she has all the attributes of a lean, mean, espionage machine. The tech is comparable to high-end gaming rigs that gamers assemble to run stealth and espionage titles like Splinter Cell or Cyberpunk 2077. And her armaments parallel the elaborate upgrades players earn and unlock in series like Saints Row.

But when deployed to the US to help Mater‘s best friend Lightning McQueen on a mission, Ms. Shiftwell is all business at first. Speaking in a posh British purr, she coolly assessed her American allies in Radiator Springs:

"Standard military issue, I can tell. No weapons system. No defensive advantage unless you count its extremely annoying voice. It‘s perfect."

Little did she know this "annoying" tow truck would soon win her heart…

Winning Over Ms. Shifwell Through Brains, Not Brawn

Early on, Holley wrote Mater off as an affable idiot rather than a useful partner. And with his rattletrap frame, buckteeth grin, and "get ‘er done!" attitude, who could blame her?

But through a series of death-defying international escapades, she gains respect for Mater‘s usefulness, fearlessness, and surprising knowledge about intricate car parts.

Their budding relationship mirrors beloved gaming and animation tropes where headstrong loners have their perspectives broadened by salt-of-the-earth oddballs. Think of the clashes between leading ladies like Lara Croft or Princess Bubblegum and their earthy male foils.

And playing up the comedy, their spy adventure exploits would feel right at home in humorous stealth games like The Procession to Calvary or tactical franchise hybrids like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.

Over the course of the globetrotting Cars 2 story, highlights showing Mater winning Ms. Shiftwell over include:

– Escaping goons through speedy backwards driving in Italy
After being cornered by thugs in Porto Corsa, Mater impresses Holley with his unexpected skill at swiftly maneuvering in reverse.

– Fixing broken London gears using obscure oil filter parts
When the clock is ticking to stop a bomb, Holley doubts Mater‘s plan to use mismatched parts like an old oil filter. But by trusting him, they save Buckingham Palace just in time!

– Foiling the villains through brilliant playing dumb in Japan
In the climax, Holley tells Mater she no longer finds him annoying but brilliant. When he sticks to acting oblivious rather than proudly owning it though, she adds "…and honest."

Official Couple Status by Movie‘s End

With camaraderie forged through adrenaline, laughs, and mutual esteem, the dynamic duo become an official couple by Cars 2‘s finale.

After wrapping up their spy duties, Mater proudly tells his Radiator Springs friends that Holley is now his girlfriend. A bit surprised but congratulatory, they welcome her to join their celebratory world grand prix after party.

"Mater boy‘s got a girlfriend!" Holley coos as she snuggles up to him, hinting she already has a cute nickname picked out for her new beau.

So contrary to expectations, the glamorous gal was swayed by the small town lug after adventures revealing his gallantry, competence, and wit.

Their unexpected happily ever after shows that affection can flourish across social strata or cultures when individuals connect through shared aspirations and complementary strengths. Isn‘t that a heartwarming moral worthy of any family-friendly feature or AAA video game focused on teamwork?

Relationship Status Update: All Systems Go in Cars 3

In Cars 3 released six years later, fans catch up with the spy car/tow truck romance to see that it‘s still cruising smoothly along.

A throwaway joke by Mater early on confirms that despite being an eccentric pair, him and Holley are still an item. When mentioning he has his wedding flaps shined up, it hints matrimony may even be in their future!

Though Holley herself is absent from the threequel focused on Lightning McQueen‘s next chapter, her presence is felt in spirit. An ongoing romance with Mater tells us this independent, cosmopolitan gal sees him as her perfect complementary counterbalance.

Meanwhile, Mater‘s affections for Holley convey that while he loves his small town Radiator Springs family, he also craves connection and mutual understanding on a deeper level.

This trails the familiar evolution seen in game protagonists like God of War‘s Kratos learning to open himself to love again after tragedy. Isn‘t it nice to see the Cars franchise acknowledge characters have emotional needs beyond fuel, tires, and racing trophy ambitions?

What‘s Next for Mater and Holley?

Where could the creative minds at Pixar take this delightfully odd couple in future Cars installments?

If these two make it to the altar for that implied wedding, it may mean blending some Bond-style espionage action into Radiator Springs‘ downhome atmosphere. Fans would surely get a kick out of seeing Holley‘s spy car pals interacting with Mater‘s eclectic crew of trucks, sedans, vans and more.

And who knows…we may end up with some baby vehicles if the tow truck and sports car decide to start a family! Maybe they‘d opt for unconventional models like a mini-SUV "baby" to lovingly clash with their parents‘ makes and models.

In video games, Holley Shiftwell has already been a playable racer in Cars 2 tie-in titles as well as the 2022 Disney Speedstorm. So the sky‘s the limit for featuring her in more titles alongside other franchise favorites. Just as she surprised viewers by becoming Mater‘s sweetheart in Cars 2, game developers could craft more unexpected stories showing new sides of her persona.

Two Very Different Cars With One Big Thing in Common

At first glance, Mater and Holley Shiftwell seem to come from separate worlds in terms of background, manners, experience and self-presentation. But at heart, the tiny truck and elegant spy car discover they have one very important quality bonding them together:

They cherish each other for exactly who they are.

Isn‘t that the dream when it comes to romance? Finding someone who lets you fully be yourself?

Mater doesn‘t have to tone down his good ol‘ boy goofiness to win Holley over. And she doesn‘t expect stereotypical macho charm from him either.

Likewise, Holley‘s sophistication doesn‘t intimidate Mater. To him it‘s just another endearing part of this multifaceted "pretty gal" that makes his antenna quiver.

Their respect, affection and compatibility shine through whether they‘re chasing baddies through European cities or relaxing in Radiator Springs. And it gives hope that no matter your differences, Mr. or Ms. Right may be waiting where – or in what model – you least expect them!

So for those invested in this Cars couple‘s fate, Holley still being Mater‘s girlfriend in Cars 3 is delightful news. Let‘s hope future films show more funny, tender or exciting moments in the continual bonding of Tow Mater and Holley Shiftwell!