Rafa Nadal won 14 Roland Garros titles among his 22 Grand Slam victories. On 2 November 2026, Kia presented a full-scale, one-off EV4 GT sculpture for him at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca. Made with clay from courts where he won his 63 singles titles on the surface, the piece follows the EV4 GT’s production-car proportions but remains a commemorative sculpture, not a driveable vehicle.
The sculpture combines court clay with the modelling clay automotive designers use to shape physical design models and assess a vehicle’s proportions and surfaces. White strips reproduce tennis-court lines across its body, alongside references to Nadal’s clay-court achievements. The tribute also incorporates details recalling his 50 consecutive sets won on clay and the five seasons in which he finished as world No 1 in the ATP rankings.
The 63-title tally includes victories in Paris, with further wins at Monte Carlo and Rome. At Roland Garros, Nadal recorded 112 wins and four defeats. The EV4 GT is a bespoke, non-driveable tribute, not a production model or an edition for sale. The production EV4 GT referenced by the sculpture is a dual-motor electric hatchback with 292 hp and an 81.4-kWh battery; those specifications apply to the car, not the clay sculpture.
The presentation also marks more than two decades of collaboration. Kia España began working with Nadal in 2004, before his first Roland Garros victory in 2005, and he became a global Kia ambassador in 2006. After the unveiling, Nadal said the use of clay connected the tribute to his career, while Soohang Chang, president and CEO of Kia Europa, said Nadal’s determination and resilience had shaped the partnership. The academy presentation took place at Nadal’s sporting and educational centre in Mallorca.
This is a one-off tribute, not a model programme; the Peugeot 9X8 programme represents a different kind of automotive development and is being developed for a 2027 return.
