Drive in Mercedes passing elegant Lotus first of all (5)
I believe the answer is:
impel
'drive' is the definition.
(I know that drive is a more specific form of hit)
'in mercedes passing elegant lotus first of all' is the wordplay.
'first of all' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'in mercedes passing elegant lotus' is 'IMPEL'.
(Other definitions for impel that I've seen before include "Make" , "Urge forward, drive" , "Force forwards" , "Hold together" , "Press on - drive forward" .)