Vladimir Trunkov

Vladimir Trunkov is the leader of the Trunkov Family Lemons in Cars 2.

Cars 2[]

"Before becoming the leader of the Trunkov family, Vladimir was a gray-market parts smuggler behind the "Iron Bumper". But when the power of his country shifted back to an autocracy, he changed his name and went underground. Known on the street as "Big Ears" because of the two side-panel air inlets, Vladimir was able to hear trouble coming kilometers before anyone else. With so many close calls, Vladimir doesn't know how many strokes he's got left in his engine."^[1]

Vladimir Trunkov is a light blue yellow striped Zaporozhets who works for Miles Axlerod. He is head of the Trunkov family. During the film, Vladimir and the the other main heads of the three lemon families (Gremlin, Pacer, Hugo) attend a meeting with Professor Z in Porto Corsa to discuss their evil plans about discrediting the Allinol by using the radiation disguised camera to crash out the racers in the World Grand Prix that use the gas, and ensure that all cars keep using conventional fuel to secure the profits of their "lemon" organization who managed to secure the largest unexplored oil resources in the world. Vladimir is seen smiling at the idea.

Near the end of the film, Vladimir and the other lemons surround Lightning McQueen, Mater, Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell in London to watch the bomb planted on Mater blow them all up. Vladimir assured McQueen that they had nothing personal against him. After Mater fails to reason with them, the Radiator Springs resident come to their rescue. Vladimir gets blinded when Flo shines her headlights at him, and then gets arrested by Sheriff and the British Army in London, along with fellow lemons.

Weaponry and Gadgets[]

Deployable Machine Gun: Located on his left side, he got it out when trying to kill Mater (disguised as Ivan) in the Italy's Casino.

Trivia[]

Being a recolor of Petrov Trunkov, Vladimir is modeled as a ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets car with one adjustment: the letter T on his front bumper, which stands for his last name; Trunkov.
Vladimir's color scheme (blue and yellow) reflects the Ukrainian state flag. The ZAZ plant is located in Zaporozhye, Ukraine.
According to his die-cast, his license plate is 19-71 SMK, the same as Petrov Trunkov's and Tolga Trunkov's. However, the final battle in Cars 2 reveals his real license plate number to be 95-81 OMH.
Vladimir's tires read Road Hug, the same as Acer, Fred Pacer, and one British Police Officer.
When Mater scans Vladimir and the other lemon heads, it is shown that Vladimir is currently wanted in The Republic of New Rearendia, which is a fictional country that Rip Clutchgoneski is from. This is possibly another Easter egg.
Even though Vladimir's official description notes his street nickname "Big Ears", caused by his prominent side air intakes, the actual character model depicts a 968M model – which had the "ears" replaced by small grilles flush with the body. The actual ZAZ-966/968 model that had earned the nickname "Ears" with the Soviets in the first place, had jet airplane like intakes with shiny chrome trim on both of its rear quarters.