Crossword Genius

To automobile people, it means something like "pink" (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

carnation

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

'pink' is the definition.
(carnation is a kind of pink)

'to automobile people' is the wordplay.
'to automobile' becomes 'car' (synonyms).
'people' becomes 'nation' ().
'car'+'nation'='CARNATION'

'it means something like' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for carnation that I've seen before include "Flower like pink" , "Feature of many a wedding" , "Showy flower" , "Pink/white/red flower" , "Anoint car with the strange flower" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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