Once again, the choice of electrode material is not at issue. Precious metal (platinum, palladium, iridium) electrodes have been in spark plugs since the 1940s.
Newer systems do not deliver higher voltages; the required voltage to start the arc across the electrodes is a function of gap, mixture ionization, and cylinder pressure.
Newer systems can deliver greater energy [HEI=High Energy Ignition] to the arc once it is established, and often will exhibit greater arc duration.