CORE. That’s the new brand name Bosch has given to their new line of brushless cordless tools. Details are scarce, but Bosch has finally broken the silence about their next generation of cordless tools.
Bosch’s competitors, mainly Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, and Hitachi, all already offer 18V (or 20V Max) brushless cordless tools. Milwaukee is even coming out with a very nice lineup of brushless 12V tools. It’s time Bosch got with the program!
Advertisement
Truthfully, we believed that Dewalt would beat Bosch to market with new brushless drills and drivers to pair up with the brushless impact driver they released last year. We know that Dewalt is working on developing new brushless products, so perhaps they still can beat Bosch to market.
The CORE line will launch with a new 18V impact driver and a slight update of their 18V brushless rotary hammer.
Bosch 18V CORE Brushless Impactor
The new impactor will feature what Bosch calls a Socket Ready adapter. This new innovation allows for the use of 1/4″ hex bits or 1/2″ impact sockets without the need for separate adapters. The latest version looks a bit different than the hybrid impact driver/wrench they released earlier in the year overseas.
It looks like the new impact driver has electronic speed/torque settings, which has become the norm for premium impact drivers. This helps reduce damage to fasteners and bits when you don’t need to squeeze out every inch-ounce of torque an impact driver can deliver.
Advertisement
New 18V 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah Batteries, 12V 2.0Ah Battery
Bosch is also coming out with new 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah 18V battery packs. We knew they were coming out with a 4.0Ah battery, and a 2.0Ah compact battery just makes sense. A new 2.0Ah 12V battery pack is also pending release.
What Does This Mean?
From a performance standpoint, it means new tools with more power and better runtime. Right now we’ve only been teased with news of an impact driver and rotary hammer, but additional drills and drivers are sure to follow.
Bosch took a page out of Milwaukee’s book. A lot of changes are coming, and different branding is a good way to help customers differentiate Bosch’s new next generations tools from their current lineup of cordless tools.
This development brings up quite a few questions, with one ringing louder in our ears than the others. Which brand will be the brushless cordless tool champ in 2013?
Big thanks to Ben for his comment and tips about the new CORE brand!
Dan Richards
Take my money already!
Fred
Good to finally get some info.
JASTECH
Nice to see Bosch stepping up to the plate. Now let’s allow Bosch to overwelm us with numerous B12 tools like Milky’s portfolio. On a major note, COO? Will they have a line made in Germany? Isn’t Makita the one having a U.S.A. Mfg. plant?
stephen
A lot of the Bosch cordless tools I see are made in Malaysia, so that would be my guess for COO. But, only time will tell, I suppose.
Electricguy
I own the M18 fuel line so far, but I would switch to Bosch in a heartbeat. I have love for the Blue tools.
Made in Malaysia, Made in China, take your pick. Milwaukee is a Hong Kong owned company, anyway. http://www.ttigroup.com/en/our_brands
Stuart
There has been no word as to where the tools are being made.
Insider
They will be made in Bosch’s Penang factory in Malaysia.
I’ve been fortunate enough to try one… And they are very impressive
LC
Oh man, it never fails. I just got the DeWalt Brushless Impact Driver and these get announced. Not sure if I want to keep the DeWalt or wait for these instead. The only upgrades I see vs. the DeWalt is the 2.0Amps and the chuck design. Not sure if that’s worth returning the DeWalt for. I originally chose my Makita drill/impact kit over Bosch because I wasn’t a fan of Bosch’s drill design and I doubt Bosch will redesign their drills for this new line. Any word on the release date?
I also wouldn’t be surprised if DeWalt upgrades to 2.0Amp batteries to keep up with the competitor specs.
Impatient guy
It’s the middle of 2013 now and Bosch still hasn’t released their brushless impact driver. Are the Malaysian child laborers on strike or something?
Stuart
As of now, I believe this tool will be released in the Fall. Hopefully the early Fall.
Mike
Where are the bosch Brushless tools?!?!?!?!? I thot they were releasing them!!
John S
ya, ya – any ideas?
victor
Hi stuart — WOW — it could be me but didn’t “BOSCH” introduce the new 2.0 battery at least 6 months ago { by the way – the 12v is now 2.5amp }. The reps had no clue…………victor.
Stuart
Going by the date of this post, we knew about it as early as November of 2012.
We knew of Bosch 2.5Ah internationally as early as November 2014: https://toolguyd.com/bosch-12v-tool-news-2-5ah-battery-brushless-drywall-screwdriver/ .
I don’t know when it was first available here, but Amazon’s listing says it was first available in September 2015.
I think it was first available for sale after September, maybe October or November.
But yes, it looks like it has been available here for a couple of months now.
I don’t know why or how a Bosch rep wouldn’t know the currently available 12V Max battery capacities.
victor
bosch 2.5amp……………..thx Stuart………………..victor.