Few athletes have connected with fans as powerfully as Rafael Nadal. The retired Spanish tennis star spent 209 weeks at world number 1 and has now received a special Kia tribute celebrating his career. The full-size EV4 GT model shown here is made with earth collected from the actual courts where Nadal earned his “King of Clay” reputation.
Nadal retired from professional tennis in late 2024, but his relationship with Kia dates back to 2006, when he became a global brand ambassador after winning his first Grand Slam. To mark their long-running partnership, Kia produced the sculpture by combining conventional automotive styling clay with tennis-court clay from Monte Carlo, Paris, Rome, and Madrid.
Kia added white design tape to the orange sculpture to emphasize the EV4 GT’s character lines. The detailing also echoes the white lines on a tennis court, while bespoke exterior graphics mark significant milestones from Nadal’s career.
The sculpture’s clay-focused details give Nadal a reminder of his achievements. Kia placed “63 TITLES ON CLAY” beside the headlight and “81 CONSECUTIVE WINS ON CLAY” across the hood. On the side, lettering notes his “4 FRENCH OPEN TITLES” at Roland-Garros, part of his 22 Grand Slam singles titles. At the back, Nadal’s signature appears alongside “5 SEASONS AT NUMBER 1.”
Kia presented the one-off EV4 to Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. The sculpture matches the footprint of the production EV4 GT hatchback, but it cannot be driven and has no interior. It does use production wheels and tires, meaning it may be able to roll. Clay models are more commonly mounted on dedicated platforms with cart wheels to help maneuver them through confined areas.
Kia could have selected a more upscale vehicle, such as the electric successor to the Stinger, instead of a compact electric hatchback. However, the unusual material and tennis-themed details should make this EV4 a memorable conversation piece in Nadal’s garage. For the “King of Clay,” a clay-built car is an especially fitting addition.
“For more than twenty years, Kia has been by my side throughout my career, through all the highs and the challenges,” said Nadal. “Receiving this tribute, created from the material that has defined so much of my journey, is incredibly meaningful. It is a special reminder of everything we have shared, and I am honored by this gesture.”
Kia also pointed out that, despite the growing use of digital tools in vehicle design, clay modeling remains an important part of development. Working with a physical model allows designers to assess “proportions, surfaces, finishes, and tensions” directly on the vehicle.
Kia created a non-drivable, full-size EV4 GT sculpture for Rafael Nadal using traditional modeling clay mixed with earth from tennis courts in Monte Carlo, Paris, Rome, and Madrid. Presented at his academy in Mallorca, the tribute highlights his clay-court records, Grand Slam achievements, and partnership with Kia, while also emphasizing the continuing role of physical clay models in automotive design.
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