Pursuit cut short prior to reversal of the vehicle (3)
I believe the answer is:
car
'reversal of the vehicle' is the definition.
'car' can be an answer for 'vehicle' (car is a kind of vehicle). I am not sure about the 'reversal of the' bit.
'pursuit cut short prior' is the wordplay.
'pursuit' becomes 'ar' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'short' indicates taking the first letters.
'prior' means one lot of letters go next to another.
The first letter of 'cut' is 'c'.
'ar' after 'c' is 'CAR'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for car that I've seen before include "Automobile" , "Motor vehicle" , "Wheels" , "Personal vehicle" , "estate, perhaps" .)