Crossword Genius

It involves seizing control of car touring Germany? Rubbish! (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coup detat

'it involves seizing control' is the definition.
(seizing control of a country)

'car touring germany? rubbish' is the wordplay.
'car' becomes 'coupe' (coupe is a kind of car).
'touring' means one lot of letters goes inside another (touring can mean going round).
'germany?' becomes 'D' (vehicle registration code for Deutschland).
'rubbish' becomes 'tat' (tat can mean rubbish or poor-quality material).
'coupe' going around 'd' is 'coupde'.
'coupde'+'tat'='COUP DETAT'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for coup detat that I've seen before include "Unconstitutional overthrow of a government" , "Sudden illegal seizure of government" , "Seizure of the levers of power" , "Hostile takeover" , "sudden takeover" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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