It's been a long time coming, but the SSC Tuatara is almost upon us. You don't have to take our word for it, either: just look at the beast in this latest video.

The footage was captured at Miller Motorcars in Connecticut and shows what's said to be only the second pre-production prototype for the forthcoming all-American hypercar from West Richland, Washington. As you can see, it looks pretty mean. But as you can hear, it sounds even meaner. As well it should, considering the bragging rights it's being developed to encompass.

The Tuatara is the second all-new model under development by Shelby SuperCars to replace the old (but still impressive) Ultimate Aero that dates back to 2006. SSC first showed the Tuatara at Pebble Beach in the summer of 2011 and has been working ever since to usher it into production.

The shape is designed by former Pininfarina and Bertone man Jason Castriota, and boasts some rather impressive specs. The initial 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 has been downgraded to a 5.9-liter version, but still promises to produce 1,350 horsepower and 1,280 lb-ft of torque and deliver what's sure to be world-beating, mind-blowing performance.

The prototype was apparently brought to New England to show to prospective customers in one of America's wealthiest communities. Situated on Connecticut's Gold Coast, Greenwich is home to more hedge funds per capita than you're likely to find anywhere else in the United States. And that means big bucks to spend on exotic wheels. Miller Motorcars serves them with licensed showrooms for Ferraris, Maseratis, McLarens, Aston Martins, Benteys, Rolls-Royces... even Bugattis and Paganis. Watch the clip and you'll even see a Huayra rolling in, and a black LaFerrari in the showroom – world-class hypercars that the Tuatara aims to challenge in the coming years.