There's an old man walking around Kensington Gardens looking as lost me. 'Excuse me, are you also looking for the Range Rover dinner event?' I ask. 'Yes. I'm sure they've moved the entrance.' It's only Sir Ranulph Fiennes. We walk together around Princess Diana's residence and chat about sneaking in through the catering entrance. He tells me he gets free Range Rovers in exchange for various appearances at RR functions. I didn't ask him about the driving mishap...

( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7858362/Sir-Ranulph-Fiennes-charged-with-careless-driving-after-car-crash.html )

Following the procession of glinting black face lifted Range Rovers leads us to the gate of Kensington Palace's Orangery - the grounds of which are lined with all marques of RR, tables brimming with champagne and a crane lifting a white David Blaine box aloft. The event is a collaboration with Vogue magazine (a relationship which began in the early '80s), so immediately I feel devoid of style. It helps seeing Ray Mears wearing a suit. A rare sight indeed, and one where he looks more like a headmaster. Should have stuck to the shorts and Driza-Bone hat Ray. 

For an hour the glowing white box dangled from a crane, and for an hour various slebs were spotted. Should I stare at Victoria Beckham, or should I gaze at the early '70s 2-door RR instead. Decisions. Such a massive shame that the original Range Rover Godfather, Spen King, tragically passed away only 48-hours ago.

30 seconds before the unveiling of what was known as the LRX concept and is now the Evoque, my Blackberry buzzed to show the press release about the car had gone live before the car itself! The crane eventually lowered, atmospheric music reached a crescendo and the white Evoque burst into the limelight.

And by heck it's handsome. Just like the concept seen in 2008, the Evoque features almost identical body lines bar rear view mirrors and door handles. Coming from such rugged-luxo stock, the Evoque needed to remain stocky - and it does. So shallow is the roofline that the rear pillars are a mere handspan (7-inches?) in height. I'm pleased to say the Evoque is two door only (three door in new money), something the Range Sport should have always been. It's a given that a five door version will follow, but let's not think about that right now.

No word yet on the Evoque's powerplant, but there's a promise that this lightest ever Range Rover (you probably guessed that) will excrete less than 130g/km bad things into the air. JLR has also confirmed that they will sell a 2wd version alongside the 4x4 variant.

The buzz surrounding Range Rover's smallest, greenest product intensifies when it is revealed that production will take place in Halewood, Merseyside, creating 1000 jobs. I'm sure Victoria Beckham is particularly pleased about that. She is the 'creative design executive' for the brand, you know. I'm afraid I have no clue what that means.

What I do know is that the Evoque's awkward name will soon wash clean, and that is does look gloriously confident. It will probably cost £30-£36k and, if the interior is anything like the full-fat Range Rover, this compact 4x4 deserves to sell. Zara Philips wants one. Not sure if it will tug her horse box, though.

Happy 40th birthday Range Rover. R.I.P Spen King.