Commandeer four-by-four across the Channel (5)
I believe the answer is:
seize
This clue is a double definition.
'commandeer' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'four-by-four across the channel' is the second definition.
('seize' is 16 or 4x4 in French)
(Other definitions for seize that I've seen before include "appropriate" , "Snatch" , "Get hold of" , "Grab by force" , "Grasp suddenly" .)