In the early 1950s, Ferrari shifted from using the compact Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 engine in its smallest class of sports racers to a line of four-cylinder engines designed by Aurelio Lampredi. The early experiments with this engine led to the creation of the famed 500 Mondial. Named to mark the world ("Mondial") championships won by Alberto Ascari, the 500 Mondial featured a 2.0 L version of Lampredi's engine in a small and light body with an advanced suspension. The 500 Mondial remained competitive through the end of the 1950's. Closely related, the 750 Monza sported a 3.0 L version of Lampredi's engine.