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Since the Festool C12 drill/driver’s release, the Popular Woodworking shop has had the tool in use. In fact, someone in the shop (I’ll not mention the name) keeps this tool close at hand; it’s the first drill/driver to which she reaches.
In today’s world of battery-powered drills, models come and go. In the December 2005 issue, Popular Woodworking Magazine named the Festool C12 (then referred to as a BPS 12) one of the the year’s “Best New Tools” and five years later the C12 drill-driver remains unaltered and continues to move off store shelves. But all that’s about to change.
Festool has a new version in the works and upgrades not only make the C12 a better, more efficient tool, they make it possible to grow in size. No the C12 isn’t getting bigger, the company plans to extend the line with the introduction of a larger drill-driver based on the C12, the C15. 
Both drill-drivers will have a new brushless motor design. Festool says that since the C12 has been in production, the company has, “tweaked our processes to produce a better, more efficient, and reliable motor.” Specific differences, however, are being held close to the vest.
Another change to the design is the introduction of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Due to the smaller and lighter nature of the Li-ion, Festool is able to develop a larger tool while maintaining its self-imposed height and weight restrictions to keep the drill-drivers comfortable in cabinetmakers hands. Both tools, the improved C12 and the new C15, have added torque and increased run-times. The charts below provide the tool specs of each drill-driver. 
Don’t look for the updated C12 or the new C15 to hit stores until late Fall 2010 and as for prices, those have yet to be established.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
