This Kia EV4 GT Is Made Of Actual Tennis Court Clay
It celebrates tennis legend Rafael Nadal
Only a few athletes have captivated fans as much as Rafael Nadal. The retired Spanish tennis player, who spent 209 weeks as the world's number 1, has received a special present from Kia, celebrating his illustrious career. Believe it or not, the pictured full-size model of the Kia EV4 GT is made with earth gathered from the actual courts where Nadal gained the nickname "King of Clay".
Though he retired from professional tennis in late 2024, Nadal has been a Kia global brand ambassador since 2006, after he won his first Grand Slam. In order to honor their longtime collaboration, Kia created a special sculpture by blending traditional styling clay with tennis court clay from Monte Carlo, Paris, Rome, and Madrid.
To break up the monotony of the orange material, Kia used white design tape to highlight the character lines of the EV4 GT. These accents double as a reference to the white tennis court lines and are joined by custom exterior graphics highlighting Nadal's major career milestones.
A walk around the sculpture will remind Nadal of his clay-related achievements. At the front, Kia printed "63 TITLES ON CLAY" next to the headlight and "81 CONSECUTIVE WINS ON CLAY" on the hood. The profile carries a note about the "4 FRENCH OPEN TITLES" at Roland-Garros out of Nadal's 22 Grand Slam single titles. Finally, the rear end has his signature next to "5 SEASONS AT NUMBER 1" lettering.
Not designed to be driven
The unique Kia EV4 was presented to the tennis legend at his Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. It has the same footprint as the production EV4 GT hatchback, but is non-drivable and doesn't have an interior. Still, it rides on production wheels and tires, so it likely rolls. Most clay models sit on special platforms with cart wheels, making it easier to move them around in tight spaces.
While Kia could have chosen a higher-end model, like the electric Stinger successor, over a compact electric hatchback for the tribute, the eye-catching material and tennis references will certainly make it a great conversation starter in Nadal's garage. After all, the "King of Clay" should have a car made of clay in his collection.
"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."
The automaker noted that despite the increasing use of digital tools in automotive design, clay modeling remains an integral part of vehicle development as it allows designers to judge "proportions, surfaces, finishes, and tensions" on a physical product.