Sphero's Ultimate Lightning McQueen toy is animatronic Disney magic

Pixar's newest "Cars" film is nearly here, and Sphero's newest robot toy is a perfect Pixar replica. And -- it talks.

Ultimate Lightning McQueen is a collector's-item-type package. It better be, because it costs $299, £299 or AU$499.

Sphero, a Boulder, Colorado-based robotics company, previously made the adorable BB-8. Lightning is bigger and more advanced.

The box and packaging are pretty well done, too.

Lightning comes perched on a plastic base like a classic model car.

The car's windshield is actually a trapezoidal screen and the eyes animate like the Pixar character.

Lightning's body feels solid and dense, but Sphero promises the body can take a beating like other Sphero toys.

All four wheels can rise and move independently, giving the car personaity and little motions even when parked.

In the box there's a "service manual," the car and a red charger.

The gas cap opens and this is where Lightning charges up (adorable).

McQueen races at up to 6 miles an hour, for up to 40 minutes on a full charge.

You need to pair the car to a phone app to control it, though: there's no remote in the box.

By the way, the service manual doesn't have interesting graphics inside: it's just a basic mini instruction manual (a bit of a letdown).

This is the first Sphero toy to have speakers inside and it can say dozens of Lightning McQueen catchphrases triggered by the phone app.

Remote controls make McQueen race and drift: The tires are made to drift extra-easily.

McQueen's mouth moves, too. In the phone app, phrases can be strung together and played back.

A pit stop minigame in the app is entertaining, but hopefully Sphero will build more scripted controls to make the car do more tricks.

This is the most personality-driven toy Sphero has made: The company worked with Pixar to perfect it.

Different racing modes offer some extra game value in the app: It could be that Lightning keeps improving via updates.

Could McQueen be a sign of Sphero robots to come? Much like Anki Cozmo last year, it's one of the most charming robots we've seen.

But, be prepared for a more basic set of features compared to the programmable Sphero robot balls the company also makes.

Maybe other Disney characters are coming next?