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I'd respectfully disagree. The type of journalist that gets invited to these events rarely bite the hand that feeds them.imagine if even just one of those journalists ended up "dead in the water" due to water ingress into the engine (or any manner of other issue -- electronics for instance); this would be the equivalent of TFL Trucks' Defender saga which I have no doubt firmly hampered JLR's sales of the new Defender in North America.
At the new Defender launch in Namibia, one journalist broke a lower control arm, and they had to do a bush repair by cutting up a high lift jack (score one for the hi lift jack supporters) but not one of those on the trip mentioned it in copious online copy. It wasn't until well after the event a few photos leaked out:
The TFL example is a case in point, in that they were spending their own money on test vehicles and so had complete editorial freedom to say what they want. I don't think they get invited to many manufacturer press days.
I struggle to call this a "proper" wade; but probably in a different sense to that in which you are suggesting. Yes it was a reasonable depth, but it was entirely an artificial wade in the sense they didn't need to do it to get anywhere. Evidenced by the fact you could see they returned by driving along the beach/foreshore.But, Ineos has taken Snorkelled and Non-Snorkelled trucks through a proper wade -- not the most difficult one in the word of course
If a group out there for a weekend drive did this, it would be labelled as irresponsible at best and possibly subject to legal penalty.
"Dirt, brake dust, traffic film residue and oil that is washed off are all pollutants.
Any cleaning agents you use (including those labelled biodegradable or traffic film removers) are very poisonous to river/marine life. If you cause pollution, you are breaking the law and spoiling your environment." quoted from the UK Environment Agency pollution prevention guidelines.
This is the equivalent event for the launch of the new Defender in Namibia:but it's a far cry from the artificial stream/mudpit dug with a backhoe that the JLR experience provides folks when they launch a new rig.