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I think the less you cover up the better. I just leave the manifold as is. I prefer being able to see the actual engine components, not a bunch of plastic covers.
I like the first one better with the painted fuel rail covers.
Personally, I'm getting a little tired of the carbon fiber look maybe because I've been to too many car shows lately. Some still pull off the look, however IMO when you cover all the components with that stuff, it all blends in a looks the same.
I will search around for the picture, however I've seen some really nice engine bays that tastefully have mixed a few carbon fiber pieces, chrome caps/pieces and colored hoses.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.