Aston Martin of Tampa

The Elder Automotive Group, Jaguar's largest-volume retailer, debuts Aston Martin of Tampa. Now one of Florida's fastest growing premier automotive dealership.

The 38,000 square-foot retail facility encompasses more than 8.5 park like acres near the Fletcher Avenue exit from I-275. It represents a $7.5 million investment in the Tampa area, and will create 75 jobs in sales, service, maintenance and administration.

The 13,700-square-foot jaguar showroom features airy 24-foot ceilings, computerized laser patterns projected across hanging mesh screens, and a 250-gallon living reef fish tank. Five informal sitting areas impart a relaxed, British-Caribbean atmosphere to the showroom, which includes a coffee bar and entertainment center.

The high-tech, hanging mesh partition system replicates the grille pattern of the highest-performance Jaguars, such as the Jaguar XKR and new S-TYPE R.

Aston Martin of Tampa has separate buildings for pre-owned car sales, a detail shop and a car wash where customers can return for complimentary exterior cleaning. Aston Martin cars are shown in a separate, 2,500-square-foot pavilion.

Technicians in the 16 air-conditioned service bays wear uniforms reminiscent of Jaguar's Formula One pit crews. The service drop-off area has two television monitors to entertain and inform customers. The Elder Automotive Group consistently ranks among the Top 10 Hispanic-owned corporations, as compiled by Hispanic Business Magazine. It is the only woman-owned corporation in Working Woman magazine's Top 500 Women in the Country.

Irma Elder was born in Xicotencalt, Mexico, and moved to Florida as a teenager. She met James Elder a few years later while on vacation. The two married in 1963 and moved to Michigan, where they opened Troy Ford in April of 1967. When James Elder died suddenly in 1983, Mrs. Elder took over the business.

The Elder Automotive Groups Holdings have since grown from 1 to 7 automotive retail facilities. Elders Michigan-based Jaguar Aston Martin of Troy has earned the top sales volume in North America in both new and previously owned Jaguars for the past 7 years.

Elder's son, Robert Elder, Vice President of the Elder Automotive Group is President and General Manager of Aston Martin Jaguar of Tampa and has helped to guide its distinctive interior and exterior design. "We worked hard to create a natural, aesthetic setting for the facility, both to enhance the neighborhood and to preserve as many trees as possible for our own children and grandchildren for years to com," said Robert Elder, 31.

The Jaguar showroom features airy 24-foot ceilings, computerized laser patterns projected across hanging mesh screens, and a 250-gallon living reef fish tank. Five informal sitting areas impart a relaxed, British-Caribbean atmosphere to the showroom, which includes a coffee bar and entertainment center.

The high-tech, hanging mesh partition system replicates the grille pattern of the highest-performance Jaguars, such as the Jaguar XKR and new S-TYPE R.