Kia has made Rafael Nadal a full-size EV4 GT out of clay, part of it taken from tennis courts that shaped his career. White court lines run along the body where designers would normally use tape, and his records are marked into the surface. The one off sculpture, called “King of Clay,” now sits at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca.
Why Car Designers Still Work in Clay
Clay is where every Kia begins. Before a car goes into production, designers and model makers shape a full scale version by hand in modelling clay to judge its proportions, surfaces and finishes. Kia says the method is still used alongside digital design tools because it lets the team see and touch the real shape.
That shared material gave Kia the idea. Clay is where Nadal built his career, and it is where Kia builds its cars. The brand’s tribute page puts it simply. “Clay set the stage for Rafa’s extraordinary career. At Kia, it’s where ideas begin to take shape.”
Where the Clay Came From
The model blends traditional styling clay with clay from courts that played a part in Nadal’s career. Carscoops reports the court clay came from Monte Carlo, Paris, Rome and Madrid. Several European outlets say the blend includes clay from Roland Garros, where he won 14 French Open titles.
The result is the orange red colour of a clay court, shaped into the low, sporty lines of the EV4 GT. It keeps the same footprint as the production car and sits on production wheels and tyres. It has no interior and cannot be driven.
Court Lines Instead of Design Tape
On a normal clay model, designers run thin tape along the body to mark its character lines. Kia swapped that tape for white lines that look like the markings on a tennis court. The lines trace the car’s shape and carry Nadal’s career highlights along them.
The bodywork records 63 singles titles on clay, a record 50 consecutive sets won on clay and 5 seasons finished as world number 1. Nadal’s signature appears on the rear. Kia says these details exist only on this tribute and will not appear on the production EV4 GT.
A Partnership Older Than His First Grand Slam
Kia started working with Nadal in 2004, before he won his first Grand Slam in 2005, and he remains the brand’s global ambassador more than 20 years later.
“For more than twenty years, Kia has been by my side throughout my career, through all the highs and the challenges,” Nadal said. “Receiving this tribute, created from the material that has defined so much of my journey, is incredibly meaningful.”
Soohang Chang, president and CEO of Kia Europe, said “Rafael’s determination and resilience have inspired tennis players and fans around the world.”
The Moment at the Academy
Kia presented the sculpture to Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca, where it is now on display. A set of films follows the project from the first cuts in the clay to the handover. On Kia’s tribute page, the making of film is titled “Behind every line” and the gifting film “A moment for Rafa.”
The campaign signs off with a line that sums up the gesture. “For the King of Clay. From Kia.”
Kia usually shapes clay into the cars it sells. This time it made one car for one person, from the surface he dominated longer than anyone.
Campaign Name: King of Clay
Agency Name: Not mentioned
Brand Name: Kia
Location: Rafa Nadal Academy, Manacor, Mallorca, Spain (Kia Europe)
