Crossword Genius

Note expensive car with gold and red top (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mirror

'red top' is the definition.
(the Daily Mirror is a red top newspaper)

'note expensive car with gold' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'mi' (as in 'do re mi').
'expensive car' becomes 'rr' (abbreviation for Rolls Royce).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'gold' becomes 'or' ('or' is the heraldic name for gold).
'mi'+'rr'+'or'='MIRROR'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for mirror that I've seen before include "copy of > tabloid" , "double" , "Way of seeing oneself" , "Common device for reflection" , "Something studied constantly by the vain?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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