Crossword Genius

Still being here, take car outside (can I get into reverse?) (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

survival

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'still being' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'here take car outside can i get into reverse?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'take' could be 'r' (abbreviation for 'recipe', Latin for 'take') and 'r' is found within the answer.
'car' could be 'viva' (I've seen this before) and 'viva' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for survival that I've seen before include "State of remaining alive" , "-- of the fittest (Darwinian concept)" , "A hangover from a former time" , "The ... of the fittest (Darwinian evolutionary theory)" , "The fact of continuing to live" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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