a rotary electric starter machine including an electric motor , a housing surrounding the motor , and a pinion connected to the motor , at least one of the motor and the housing comprising a magnetically active portion of the machine , wherein the magnetically active motor portion is made of an enhanced performance steel material having a flux density at a given magnetizing force level that is at least about 20 % less than the flux density at the given magnetic force level of a conventional low carbon steel material chosen from the group consisting of aisi 1008 and aisi 1010 steel .