Further improvements in the protection of car occupants involved in frontal impact accidents can be achieved only by a careful balance between what is neededf or increased safety, what is technically possible and what can be afforded. Some steps in this direction, which have not yet been optimised, are presented in this paper and have been incorporated into the Demonstration Safety Car, ESV 87. A large reduction in intrusion has been achieved by developing an energy absorbing front structure and by reinforcing the passenger compartment to achieve compatible dynamic stiffnesses. It has been shown that even with small cars it is possible to absorb virtually all the impact energy in the frontal structure, with only slight deformation of the passenger compartment. Further improvements would require a reduction in forward movement of the occupants. Simulation studies have shown that this can be achieved by properly matched seatbelt pre-tensioners. Fitted to the car is a safer steering wheel designed to reduce the likelihood of driver head injuries. A user acceptability study is reported which shows that most users liked many aspects of this design of steering wheel. Future work on head impact area testing is also outlined.