Pistons were steel a hundred years ago. How are these pistons different?

I think titanium would be better but the cost...
@ MBadgero Better alloy, better shape, tighter tolerances.

Impressive

A ceramic face to the piston would seem to be better yet, just a matter of being able to attach it well to the rest of the piston.

Maybe now CARB won't get their panties in so tight of a bunch.

@ Bruce H. Anderson CARB is all about their power science and air quality has nothing to do with their actions.

Wouldn't the ideal be to make the piston and cylinder from the same metal so they'd have the same coefficient of expansion?
That's why it's so bad to lose cooling in an engine with an iron block or iron lined cylinders and aluminum pistons. The pistons will expand more than the cylinders and seize in the bores.

Any details on the piston pin on the new steel piston?

@Siegfried Gust
I would not want ceramic anywhere inside an engine. Even a single loose grain can ruin an engine. If you want you can try the following experiment.
Take a ceramic plate (dish). Invert it. There should be a base ring of unglazed area. Take any kind of knife and use this unglazed ring area as a sharpening device. You will be surprised at the result.
I do remember International Harvester petrol engines using cast iron pistons some 45 years ago.

yep the old Cub had iron pistons,I think Cat uses steel pistons in some apps,Titanium wouldnt be suitable for a lot of pistons because of its characteristics(it wont hold riflings either in a gun barrel)