Kia Surprised A Legend Of World Tennis

Rafael Nadal was given a full-size car made of tennis clay.

Kia created a full-scale sculpture of the EV4 GT electric vehicle out of tennis clay collected from the courts where Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal won 63 singles titles. This unusual automotive art installation was presented to the athlete at his academy on the Spanish island of Mallorca. The project marks more than 20 years of collaboration between the tennis player and the South Korean automaker, according to Autoblog.

To create the sculpture, they used special modeling clay—the kind automotive designers use when developing new cars—as well as real clay from tennis courts. The body was painted red-orange, and white lines were used to replicate the court markings.

The surface also features symbols of Nadal’s sporting achievements: 63 victories at clay-court tournaments, a record streak of 50 consecutive sets won on this surface, and five seasons at the top of the world rankings.

This is a “full-size, non-drivable sculpture,” not a special production version of the electric vehicle. The athlete’s personal autograph also appears on the body.

The partnership between Kia and Nadal began in 2004, when the company’s Spanish division sponsored the young tennis player. In 2006, he became the brand’s global ambassador. The partnership has continued even after the athlete’s professional career ended in 2024.

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