Here’s one family car you definitely don’t want to park too close to while dropping off your kids at school: a W213 Mercedes-AMG E63 fitted with a flame-spitting custom FI (Frequency Intelligent) exhaust.

Of course, this Merc doesn’t really need to be even louder, since bangs and crackles are pretty much the order of the day when it comes to the E63, whether it’s the regular version or the flagship ‘S’.

When fitted with a FI exhaust, the high-powered Merc gains an ‘intelligent’ ECU exhaust control valve set up to optimize acoustics as well as performance. Open the valves for maximum flow and power and the noise levels go up a notch. However, when they’re closed, volume is reduced in order to make everyday driving more relaxing and less ostentatious.

That is until your car starts spitting flames from its derriere, which is often indicative of having extremely powerful engines – something the E63 certainly qualifies for. In stock form, the entry-level version is good for 571 PS (563 HP) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque, whereas the E63 S model packs 612 PS (603 HP) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque. Both can get you from zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 3.5 seconds.

In the end, while this blazing display of power is by no means the most extreme we’ve ever seen, it still qualifies as being very impressive, considering that the E63 Wagon is at its core a highly practical and comfortable family car that, if you so wish, can easily mix it with supercars.