Here's a new version of Kuru Toga - it's available in 0.3 and 0.5 in blue, black, silver on "that auction" site for $15 (double price!). Looks to have some more metal parts? Here's a pic grabbed from Flickr:

woah that looks so awesome i wish i could get one.

Pretty pencil. I wondered when they would update it to look more like a true drafting pencil.

I splurged :shock: and bought it from ebay and got it last week. They call it "High grade" kuru toga.

My impressions:
I have the white 0.5mm body and it is definitely heavier than the original plastic body version. It has a nice aluminum grip, metal clip on top. The grip has a 3mm hole to see the engine turning. The painted shaft is plastic I think, but the white paint job is more like pearl white; looks nice and is real smooth to the touch. Mechanically, it works and writes the same as the original version.

Overall, it feels like a nicer, sleeker, more professional version kuru toga.

I exchanged some of my hard-earned bucks for a black one. Couldn't resist. Even though it's more expensive than the old Kuru Toga, it definitely worth the extra dough. Looks better and feels better. I think I'll get a white one too.

What size eraser goes with this pencil?

I noticed that the Kuru Toga page has the size S, but it looks like size C might be more appropriate...I have no idea.

Checking mine, the new Kuru Toga uses the size C (like the Shift), while the original Kuru Toga uses the size S eraser refill.