Preview: Metabo’s 14.4V Li-Ion Drill/Driver

Metabo’s been slowly working their way down their line of drill/drivers, converting them to lithium-ion power. The most recent upgrade recipient: the 14.4V line.
The new BSZ 14.4 will ofer up to 487 in-lbs of torque and no-load speeds up to 1,400 RPM — which Metabo claims enables it to drill up to 1/2″ holes in mild steel and up to 1-3/16″ holes in soft wood. It also sports a significantly longer runtime than the old NiCd, and offers a service life of up to 1,500 charge cycles. Like other li-ion tools, it can stay charged on the shelf for a long time.
Pricing will be up to… We don’t know yet officially, but the old NiCd version sold for around $215.