Crossword Genius

One has several options as a muscle car's punctured tyre at the finish (1,2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

a la carte

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'one has several options' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'a muscle car's punctured tyre at the finish' is the wordplay.
'muscle' becomes 'lat' (short for latissimus muscle).
'punctured' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'at the finish' suggests the final letters.
The final letter of 'tyre' is 'e'.
'lat' enclosing 'car' is 'lacart'.
'a'+'lacart'+'e'='A LA CARTE'

'as' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for a la carte that I've seen before include "When each dish is charged individually" , "A real cat (anag.)" , "Menu of individual dishes with separate prices" , "Not part of a restaurant's set meal" , "'Menu with individually priced items (1,2,5)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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