The Paris Motor Show in 140 characters or less

Once upon a time, so we hear, journalists covering huge motor shows spent their days scribbling thoughtfully in pads before retiring to five-star suites to scribble a careful 2500 word analysis of the catalytic converter in the new Vauxhall Vectra.  Which would then appear some time the following month.

But technology doesn’t just mean better cars at the shows these days. The Paris Motor Show is now also full of scruffy men and women pointing shiny new phones at the world’s most exciting new metal before firing off a snap 140 character assessment on Twitter.

Still, we have to admit it’s a great way to show you everything – and this is what Top Gear's finest have been up to at @BBC_TopGear during the show.

So here you go: click through the images to relive the Paris Motor Show 2012 in 140 characters or less at it happened on the first day (and apologies for some of the less than perfect photography)

The new Jaguar F-Type in the wild. We had to battle through rampant hordes to get this picture... 

All the picture and full story of the new baby Jag coupe

Watch exclusive behind the scenes footage of the F-Type in action 

To change between the Jaguar F-Type's eight gears, you use these GOLD PADDLES. Bling. 

All the picture and full story of the new baby Jag coupe

Watch exclusive behind the scenes footage of the F-Type in action 

It's the Infiniti LE! Or, as it'll be known in Britain, the THE... 

Don't tell James May, but we think we've found his birthday present: a piano made by Peugeot... 

Set loose the airborne piglets, it's a GOOD-LOOKING PANAMERA! 

Read the full story of the new Panamera Sport Turismo concept 

Say hello to the Romanian rozzers' latest ride, the Dacia Dokker... 

Read all the GOOD NEWS about the new Dacia Sandero 

Germany reveals the subtlest way to smuggle 296bhp into France: the stealthtastic new Audi S3...

Read the full story on the new Audi S3 

Wow! A new Aston Martin tourer! Oh no, it's the handsome Ford Mondeo estate... 

Read the full story on the new Ford Mondeo 

The (Bentley) boys are back in town, and going to #LeMans with the Continental GT3...

The full story on one of the cars of the show... 

Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale. Lots of noise: standard. Attractive woman in the passenger seat: almost certainly... 

The full story on the new Maser this way 

BREAKING NEWS: Ford reveals new B-Max convertible. Titanium spec, too...

One for our rally fans, the Peugeot 208 R5. Big wings + wide arches = win... 

It's new Reasonably Priced Car! And with added punctuation! The pretty three-door Kia pro_cee'd

Mon dieu! C'est the nouveau Renault Clio! Chaud ou, er, not? 

Read the full story on the new Renaultsport Clio - with auto gearbox - this way 

Q. How big is the Isuzu Satellite's pick-up bed? A. Not big enough for a jet ski... 

Peugeot RCZR: faster, with a prettier nose. But still a lovely buttocky roof. 

Here's the new Golf GTI (with new red line through the front lights). Comes with either 217 or 227bhp. We'll have the latter...

Read Paul Horrell's report on the new Golf GTI here 

Rolls-Royce: Inspired by Art Deco... Engineered by Art Garfunkel... 

Find out more about the Art Deco Rolls Royces here 

Bridgestone Chief Engineer: suffers curiously specific circulation issues... 

AUDI BABY ACCESSORIES! #ForTheJuniorTailgater 

This is the Skoda Rapid, the Czech firm's latest attempt to... Oi! Pay attention! 

SEND HER VICTORIOUS, HAPPY AND GLORIOUS, Etc... #bestofbritish 

Time for lunch. This is what happens when journalists perish in the Paris Motor Show melee. Sorry John. 

The new Range Rover and its all-aluminium monocoque body have parked in a water feature... 

All the details of the new Range Rover this way 

OLYMPIC NEWS: Spain's secret weapon in bid for 2016 polevault gold revealed... 

Mitsubishi's plug-in Outlander hybrid: 150mpg, 49g/km CO2, replacement limbs as standard... 

Rainbow Vauxhall Adam from Sir Peter Blake. He designed the Sergeant Pepper cover, you know... 

Here's the brand new Seat Leon. Looking pretty... 

Good news! James May launches new range of cosmetic car accessories... 

This is the tub of Ferrari's new Enzo-successor, the first ever hybrid from Maranello. Even this looks fast... 

Trigonometry fans. Here's the facelifted Lamborghini Gallardo... 

Read all about the latest versions of Lambo's venerable supercar 

And finally, here it is. The successor to the legendary F1 is unveiled in front of hundreds: the McLaren P1. 

Full story and pics from the car of the show 

And the Top Gear award for Best Paintjob In Show goes to... the blue-foil Merc B-Class... 

Smart Forstars concept seems rather pleased with itself #smugface 

Read Paul Horrell on the Smart Forstars 

It's tiny, it's tenacious and it'll gambol up the meanest of Alps: it's the new Panda 4x4! 

Read the full story on a car James is very much looking forward to 

The Nissan TeRRA has diagonal seating, wooden doors and is powered by hydrogen... 

Ferrari FF gets new panoramic roof. Now pilots can admire your innovative back seats too  

We've seen this before, but isn't the BMW i8 awesome?  

Italy #Italy