Kia has unveiled a one-of-a-kind clay sculpture of its EV4 GT hatchback, incorporating material collected from the tennis courts where Rafael Nadal won 63 clay-court singles titles. The full-size creation was presented to the tennis legend at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, celebrating a partnership between Nadal and Kia that has lasted more than two decades.
Kia EV4 GT Gets a Tennis-Inspired Design
The sculpture recreates the shape of Kia’s EV4 GT hatchback, but it is not a special edition intended for production or sale. Instead, it is a full-size, non-drivable tribute made using the same type of modelling clay automotive designers use to develop vehicle shapes and surfaces.
Kia added white design tape across the sculpture’s orange-red body to recreate the appearance of tennis court lines. Custom markings also highlight some of Nadal’s biggest career achievements.
These details include his 63 clay-court singles titles, a record 50 consecutive sets won on the surface, and the five seasons in which he finished as world number one. The sculpture also features Nadal’s signature, giving the creation a personal connection to the tennis legend.
Kia and Rafael Nadal Mark More Than 20 Years Together
The partnership between Kia and Nadal began in 2004, when the company’s Spanish division supported the young tennis player. He became Kia’s global ambassador in 2006, following his first Grand Slam victory at the French Open in 2005.
The relationship has continued even after Nadal retired from professional tennis in 2024, making the EV4 GT sculpture another celebration of the long-standing connection between the automaker and the tennis star.
EV4 GT Highlights Kia’s Performance Electric Lineup
The choice of the EV4 GT for the tribute also reflects Kia’s expanding range of performance-focused electric vehicles, which includes the EV3 GT and EV5 GT.
The EV4 has also served as a showcase for Kia’s evolving electric-car design, with the hatchback representing part of the company’s expanding electric vehicle lineup.
For Nadal, the clay sculpture pays tribute to the surface that defined his career. For Kia, the project connects its automotive design process with a sporting partnership that has endured for more than two decades.
