i seriously doubt the DLC will be free. the game was so cheap to begin with that if they charge for DLC and it's a fair price for the content, you can't really complain.

they could put out charged DLC in the form of eliminator mode, tracks, music and ships.

then give us the odd free ship every now and then, the obscure ones...from some previous games...or even new skins for ones we already have...to keep us sweet.