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Subzero motoring necessity, as opposed to a decorative strip say (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

antifreeze

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'subzero motoring necessity' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

'opposed to a decorative strip say' is the wordplay.
'opposed to' becomes 'anti' (anti means opposing something).
'a decorative strip say' becomes 'freeze' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'anti'+'freeze'='ANTIFREEZE'

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for antifreeze that I've seen before include "Glycol for car radiators" , "Liquid added to car radiator" , "It keeps thing flowing" , "Winter radiator additive" , "Car radiator additive" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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