New Kia Stinger sets Rafael Nadal’s heart racing

Tennis star Rafael Nadal has taken part in a unique experiment while test driving the Kia Stinger gran turismo.

The Spanish world No 1 was challenged by Kia Motors to match his peak match-day heart rate during a spirited drive of the Stinger.

While at the wheel, Nadal’s heart rate soared to 175 bpm – almost three times a second, and only 11 bpm short of his on-court peak.

Nadal, Kia’s brand ambassador since 2004, praised the Stinger for its performance, refinement, ride, design and handling – and now for its ability to excite his emotions as a driver.

“The Stinger is a totally different car compared to previous Kia vehicles,” said Nadal. “You feel the emotion of driving such a powerful car. You feel the power and, when you accelerate, you perceive the energy the car has. It’s a spectacular vehicle.”

Powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, the Stinger is the fastest-accelerating and most powerful production Kia ever. It was recently shortlisted in the 2018 European and World Car of the Year and has picked up the ‘Best Performance Car’ at the 2018 UK Car of the Year Awards.