Aluminum alloy components having improved properties. In one form, the cast alloy component may include about 0.6 to about 14.5 wt % silicon, 0 to about 0.7 wt % iron, about 1.8 about 4.3 wt % copper, 0 to about 1.22 wt % manganese, about 0.2 to about 0.5 wt % magnesium, 0 to about 1.2 wt % zinc, 0 to about 3.25 wt % nickel, 0 to about 0.3 wt % chromium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % tin, about 0.0001 to about 0.4 wt % titanium, about 0.002 to about 0.07 wt % boron, about 0.001 to about 0.07 wt % zirconium, about 0.001 to about 0.14 wt % vanadium, 0 to about 0.67 wt % lanthanum, and the balance predominantly aluminum plus any remainders. Further, the weight ratio of Mn/Fe is between about 0.5 and about 3.5. Methods of making cast aluminum parts are also described.